Day 196: Betsuin Buddhist Temple, Fresno, California

📌APIA Every Day (196) - Situated in Fresno, California once resided the historic Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple which dates back to 1899 when the first "Howakai" or religious gathering was held. In January 1900, it was officially recognized by the San Francisco headquarters as the Fresno Hompa Hongwanji. The first official service was held on January 27, 1901, led by Rev. Fukyo Asaeda from Kyoto, Japan. A three-story wooden temple was built and dedicated on April 8, 1902, by first-generation Japanese immigrants.

As the community grew, so did its challenges. In 1919, a fire destroyed the original wooden building, but the community quickly rallied to raise funds for a new structure. A concrete temple was built and dedicated in November 1920 by Rev. Kakuryo Nishijima. On November 4, 1936, the Fresno Buddhist Church was elevated to "Betsuin" status by the mother temple Hompa Hongwanji of Kyoto, Japan, indicating its direct branch status and conferring the title of "Rimban" to the head minister.

Over the years, the temple has undergone several changes and expansions. In 2010, a Family Dharma Center was dedicated at the current location on 2690 E. Alluvial Avenue in Fresno, while the original Kern Street property was sold in 2018, becoming the Burmese Mrauk Oo Dhamma Center. Construction of a new Hondo (main temple), which began in November 2020, was completed in April 2022. Today, the Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple serves a membership of over 1,400 people across the San Joaquin Valley. It continues to preserve its rich traditions while ensuring that the teachings of the Buddha remain relevant in modern life.

LEARN MORE:

Fresno Buddhist Temple: About Us

Chinatown Fresno: Mrauk OO Dhamma Center

Discover Nikkei: Fate and the Downtown Fresno Betsuin Temple

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