Japan65 Kyoto7 Higashi Honganji Temple

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Higashi Honganji or, the Eastern Temple of the Original Vow, is one of two dominant sub-sects of Shin Buddhism in Japan and abroad, the other being Nishi Honganji. It is also the name of the head temple in Kyoto, a collection of buildings built in 1895 after a fire burned down the previous temple.Higashi Honganji was established in 1602 by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu when he split the Shin sect in two (Nishi Honganji being the other) in order to diminish its power.

The Higashi Honganji complex, officially known as Shinshū Honbyō, presently covers an area of 93,140 square meters (about 23 acres), and is divided into two sections. The first includes the Founder's Hall and Amida Hall with their precincts, while the second covers several pavilions (inner halls).

Karasuma street

The grandest gate of The Higashi Honganji complex is the Goei-do-mon, the Founder’s Hall Gate which was completed in 1911.

Goei-do-mon, the Founder’s Hall Gate

Section of the tiled roof of Founder's Hall (Goei-do-mon)

Goei-do-mon, the Founder’s Hall Gate

Goei-do-mon, the Founder’s Hall Gate details

This gate has two stories and two roofs and is approximately 28 meters in height

Lantern in the entrance gate

The Imperial Messenger’s Gate, is also called the Chrysanthemum Gate, because it has two imperial chrysanthemum crests on its doors. This gate is normally kept closed, as it is strictly for the use of imperial messengers! The original gate here came from Fushimi Castle, but was destroyed in 1864. This reconstruction was completed in 1913

The Amida-do-mon, or Amida Hall Gate is the southernmost entry point. The gate here was originally part of Fushimi Castle but given to the temple by Tokugawa Ieyasu after he had the castle dismantled. Unfortunately, the gate was completely destroyed by the fire of 1864, but the current gate is apparently a faithful reproduction which was completed in 1909

The Genkan-mon, or Formal Entrance Gate (1911) is

normally kept closed

The Bell Tower

Amida Hall

Bronze water dragon fountain

The purification fountain near the entrance

Bronze water dragon fountain

The Higashi Honganji Founder's Hall (Goei-

The Founder's Hall (Goei-do) is the most important place in the temple complex, where the image of the founder Shinran is enshrined.

The Founder's Hall (Goei-do)

The Founder's Hall (Goei-do) is located at the center of the precincts and is one of the largest wooden structures in the world, being 76 m in length, 58 m in width, 38 m in height

The renovation of the Founder's Hall (Goei-do)

was completed in 2009

The wooden walkway that connects the Founder’s Hall and the Amida Hall

The Higashi Honganji Amida Hall

The wooden walkway and the Amida Hall

The Amida Hall

There are some interesting exhibits on the wooden walkway

Related to the tremendous human investment that went into the rebuilding of the temple in the late 19th century we can see a large wooden sled, one of many that were used to transport lumber from the mountains for the reconstruction

Amida Hall

Interior of Founders Hall

The Founders Hall

Temple Bell Detail

Amida Hall

Amida Hall is located to the left of the Founder's Hall, and the image of Amida Buddha is enshrined on the main altarRebuilt 1895Width 52m, Depth 47m, Height 29m, 108,000 roof tiles, 66 wooden pillars

Amida Hall Naijin (altar area), decorated in gold, representing the world of the Pure Land

Text: Internet

Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu

Nicoleta Leu

InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Japan Buddhism Music 201

Japan65 Kyoto7 Higashi Honganji Temple

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