About 650 years ago, Nikko Shonin planted a Japanese cedar tree at the Taiseki-ji temple. This indomnitable old cedar had several branch off-shoots at the height of 7-8 meters, hence, it was coined as the “Japanese cedar with children”. In 1968, Shizuoka Prefecture bestowed the Natural Monument award to this famous tree.
Nevertheless, the cedar at one time became decayed and was in the crisis of toppling down. The high priest at the time Nittatsu was extremely concerned and called upon a specialist to save the tree. In 1971, the final decision was made to cut the cedar saving the trunk.
Before toppling the tree, the experts saved the cuttings and nurtured it over 2-3 years and grafted them to the tree stump. Since that time, the Japanese cedar with its children had rapidly grown to 5-6 meters in height. The tree exemplified the symbol of a strong life-force.
However, Nikken trampling on his mentor's heart cruelly up-rooted the tree. Now the once indomnitable tree's pathetically altered state resembling a mummy is on display at the new reception hall.
Nikken and his followers' atrocity does not end here. Within the various areas of the Taiseki-ji grounds, the student priests have cruelly killed dogs, cats and pigeons.
The famous cherry trees at Taiseki-ji have been cut down one after another since the beginning of 1992. More than 280 cherry trees have been destroyed at the hands of Nikken.
The destruction of the cherry trees was broadcast on television. Nikken became the center of criticism from the Nature Preservation and Protective Agencies. Perhaps Nikken did not want the tree stumps as evidence as he ordered them uprooted by a power shovel.
Raged with jealousy, Nikken is in denial of his mentor, high priest Nittatsu and continues to destroy his achievements. Even the cherry trees became objects of resentment for Nikken.
Disregard for life, this behavior of Nikken is synonymous of the term “a robber of life”.