Higashi Hongan-ji

Higashi Hongan-ji, (The Eastern Temple of the Original Vow), is one of two main temples of Jodo Shinshu, the other being Nishi Hongan-ji (The Western Temple of the Original Vow). It is also the head temple of the Ōtani-ha branch of Jōdo Shinshū in Kyoto.

The site of Higashi Hongan-ji was donated in 1602 by the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu to Kyōnyo, the son of Abbot Kōsa, for his loyalty and support.

At the center of the temple is the Founder’s Hall, also called Taishi-dō, which dominates the temple grounds. (Taishi means high priest). There an image of Shinran is enshrined. Founder’s Hall has a mausoleum containing the ashes of its founder Shinran. The mausoleum was initially constructed in 1272 and moved several times before being constructed in its current location in 1670.  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 Founder’s Hall features sloped roofs in the Irimoya style. The ropes used in hauling the timbers used in the building were fashioned from the hair of the female members of the congregation.

Next to the Founder’s Hall is the Amida Hall. It contains an image of Amida Buddha along with an image of Prince Shōtoku, who introduced Buddhism to Japan. The hall is ornately decorated with gold leaf and art from the Japanese Meiji Period.

The history of Kyoto is replete with catastrophic fires. Higashi Hongan-ji burned down four times during the Edo Period, which included the Great Tenmei Fire in 1788 and the Kinmon Incident in 1864. It was reconstructed temporarily for Shinran’s 600^th Memorial Service in 1861. Later, after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the ceasing of hostilities, rebuilding started and the Founder’s Hall and Amida Hall were completed in 1895. Other buildings were restored by 1911.