Higashi-Honganji Temple, Kyoto

The Higashi-Honganji Temple of the Jodo-shinsu sect was founded in 1602 and, after repeated destruction, last rebuilt in 1859.The Jodo-shinsu sect was founded in 1224 by Shinran-shonin (or Keishin-daishi, 1173-1262), who had spent several years at the monastic center of Mount Hiei, northeast of Kyoto. There he became a disciple of Ho-nen, founder of the Jodo sect, who encouraged him to found the Jodo-shinsu sect. The central features of the new sect were a belief in the Amida-Buddha, granter of salvation, and the rejection of celibacy. The increasing influence of this sect led Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1602 to divide the Honganji Temple into two and found the Otani school, a separate sect with its base in the Higashi-Honganji Temple.The only parts of the temple freely open to the public are the Founder's Hall and the main Cult Hall. To see the other buildings and the Abbot's Lodge it is necessary to apply for permission at least one day in advance.The great two-story gate, Daishido-mon, gives access to the Daishi-do (Founder's Hall) with its massive wooden columns, which contains a statue of Shinran, said to have been carved by the founder himself. On either side of the statue are likenesses of abbots of the Otani school. To the south of the hall is linked by a gallery with the Hondo (main hall), which contains a statue of Amida by Kaikei. The smaller north gate, Chokushi-mon, which was used by Imperial emissaries (now closed), is a copy of a gate in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Fushimi Castle. In addition to numerous works of art, including statues of Amida by Shotoku-taishi and Jocho and paintings by Eshin, the temple possesses the original text of the "Kyogyoshinsho", Shinran's exposition of the doctrines of his sect. To the east of the temple, in Kawaramachi-dori, is the Abbot's Lodging.