“Honorable Mr. East.” Does that sound familiar? That is a nickname for Higashi Honganji. We are standing at a part of Higashi Honganji now.
Higashi Honganji is officially known as Shinshu Honbyo. It is the mother temple of the Otani branch of Shin Buddhism. Shinran founded this branch. Shinran’s image is enshrined in the Founder’s Hall. Amida Buddha is enshrined in Amida Hall.
After Shinran’s death in 1262, a mausoleum was built in Kyoto. His ashes were interred there. This mausoleum was the origin of Higashi Honganji. Followers have greatly supported Higashi Honganji since then. It serves as a spiritual center. People encounter Shinran’s Nenbutsu teaching here. They discover the meaning of life. They awaken to a true relationship with the Dodo.
Shinran discovered the Nenbutsu Path through his teacher Honen. This path transcends life and death. It helps overcome suffering and anxiety. This teaching provides light and comfort during turbulent times.
Shinran’s daughter Kakushinni and his followers built the Otani Mausoleum. Kakushinni’s son Kakue became the caretaker. Kakue’s son Kakunyo became the third successor. He changed the mausoleum’s name to Honganji. It became officially recognized as a temple. Later, Honganji became affiliated with the Tendai temple Shoren-in.
The seventh successor Zonnyo built two halls at Honganji. These were the Founder’s Hall and Amida Hall. Zonnyo promoted the teaching in Omi province and the Hokuriku region.
Rennyo, Zonnyo’s son, became the eighth successor in 1457. He reformed Honganji. He abolished Tendai services and adornments. He established the chanting of Shoshinge and Wasan. He introduced the teaching to Omi province. Tendai monks destroyed Honganji. Rennyo escaped and started a community in Yoshizaki. He spread Shinran’s teaching through pastoral letters called Ofumi.
When Yoshizaki became prosperous, conflicts arose. These conflicts resulted in Shinshu followers’ uprisings. Rennyo went to Kawachi province and spread the Nenbutsu teaching. He aimed to rebuild Honganji. He spent six years in Yamashina, Kyoto. Followers constructed a temple with the Founder’s Hall and Amida Hall. Merchants and craftsmen gathered around the temple. A town was established. It was described as splendid.
In 1532, followers of the Hokke-shu burned down Honganji at Yamashina. The tenth successor, Shonyo, fled to Osaka and established the main temple there. A temple town developed around Honganji.
Around the time of the eleventh successor, Kennyo, Honganji faced another crisis. Oda Nobunaga demanded possession of Osaka Honganji. Fighting began in 1570. This is known as the Battle of Ishiyama. Honganji made peace in 1580. Osaka Honganji was handed over to Nobunaga.
In 1602, Tokugawa Ieyasu donated land for Kyonyo to build another temple. This split Honganji into two. The temple in Karasuma became Higashi Honganji. Higashi Honganji and its followers established a firm foundation. The buildings were destroyed by fire four times during the Edo period. The present halls were completed in 1895.
After being divided, Higashi Honganji planned to rebuild its halls. The Founder’s Hall was completed in 1658. A great fire destroyed the halls in 1788. The Founder’s Hall was rebuilt in 1797 and Amida Hall in 1798. Fires burned down the halls again in 1823 and 1858. Temporary halls were built for Shinran’s 600th Memorial Service in 1861. These burned down in 1864. The rebuilding of the halls finally started in 1879. The Founder’s Hall and Amida Hall were completed in 1895. Other buildings were restored by 1911.
Higashi Honganji encountered tragedies throughout its history. Each time, the community rebuilt the halls. This represents the religious mind of our predecessors. The existence of the two halls is irreplaceable. It conveys the hardships of reconstruction. It reminds us of our predecessors’ respect for Shinshu Honbyo.