Higashi Hongan-ji

Higashi Hongan-ji Đông bổn nguyện tự
Higashi Hongan-ji
Religion
Affiliation	Jōdo Shinshū,Ōtani-ha
Status	Head temple
Location
Location	754 Tokiwa-machi, north ofKarasumaand Shichijō,Shimogyō-ku,Kyoto,Kyoto Prefecture
Country	Japan
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates	34°59′27.66″N135°45′30.44″E
Website
Ōtani-ha (Higashi Honganji)

Higashi Hongan-ji(Đông bổn nguyện tự),or, "the Eastern Monastery of the Original Vow", is one of two dominant sub-sects ofShin BuddhisminJapanand abroad, the other beingNishi Honganji(or, 'The Western Temple of the Original Vow'). It is also the name of the head temple of theŌtani-habranch of Jōdo Shinshū inKyoto,which was most recently constructed in 1895 after a fire burned down the previous temple.As with many sites in Kyoto, these two complexes have more casual names and are known affectionately in Kyoto asOnissan(お tây さん,Honorable Mr. West)andOhigashisan(お đông さん,Honorable Mr. East).

History

Higashi Honganji was established in 1602 by theshōgunTokugawa Ieyasuwhen he split the Shin sect in two (Nishi Honganji being the other) in order to diminish its power.The temple was first built in its present location in 1658.

The temple grounds feature a mausoleum containing the ashes ofShin BuddhismfounderShinran.The mausoleum was initially constructed in 1272 and moved several times before being constructed in its current location in 1670.

At the center of the temple is the Founder's Hall, where an image of the temple's founder, Shinran, is enshrined. The hall is one of the largest wooden structures in the world at 76 m (250 ft.) in length, 58 m (190 ft.) in width, and 38 m (125 ft.) in height. The current hall was constructed in 1895.

The Amida Hall to the left of the Founder's Hall contains an image ofAmida Buddhaalong with an image ofPrince Shōtoku,who introduced Buddhism to Japan. The hall is ornately decorated with gold leaf and art from theMeiji Period.The current hall was constructed in 1895.

Various parts of Higashi Honganji, including the Founder's Hall and Amida Hall, burned down 4 times during the JapaneseEdo Period.Monetary assistance was often given to Higashi Honganji by theTokugawa Shogunatein order to rebuild. TheGreat Tenmei Firein Kyoto caused many temple buildings to burn down in 1788, and the temple was rebuilt in 1797. An accidental fire destroyed many of the temple buildings in 1823 and were rebuilt in 1835. After burning down once again in 1858, the destroyed halls were quickly and temporarily reconstructed for Shinran's 600th Memorial Service in 1861. However, these temporary hall burned down in a city-wide fire caused by theKinmon incidenton July 19, 1864. The temple finally started to rebuild in 1879 after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and once conflict caused by theMeiji Restorationof 1868 had settled down. The Founder's Hall and Amida Hall were completed in 1895, with other buildings being restored by 1911. These buildings comprise the current temple.

During the twentieth century, Higashi Honganji was troubled by political disagreements, financial scandals and family disputes, and has subsequently fractured into a number of further sub-divisions (seeOhigashi schism). The largest Higashi Honganji grouping, theShinshu Otanihahas approximately 5.5 million members, according to statistics.However within this climate of instability the Higashi Honganji also produced a significant number of extremely influential thinkers, such asSoga Ryojin,Kiyozawa Manshi,Kaneko DaieiandHaya Akegarasuamongst others.

• 
  Founder's HallGate (Goei-do Mon), built in 1911, width 31 m (103 ft) x height 27 m (90 ft), 59,387 roof tiles
• 
  Founder's Hall (Goei-dō)
• 
  Amida Hall

See also

• Glossary of Japanese Buddhism
• Shinran
• Ōtani-ha
• Pure Land Buddhism
• Shin Buddhism