The History of Hongwanji

The Hongwanji was not founded by the founder of Jodo Shinshu, Shinran. Shinran was commemorated at the family shrine after death, which later became the Hongwanji. So the history of Hongwanji starts after Shinran.

Jodo Shinshu had devoted and popular followers. So much that it was considered a threat to the other Buddhist denominations, and even the samurai goverment thought so too. There was a time in its early history, that the Hongwanji had to be dismantled and taken to another location.

It finally found itself on a small hill and the junction of two rivers in the sleepy little town of Osaka, which originally meant "little hill." Its influence grew that the town grew around it. Oda Nobunaga, the great general wanted that land for his own, but was defeated by one of his generals, a peasant name Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who in the end, could not become Shogun because of his humble beginnings.

He persuaded Hongwanji to move back to Kyoto to sizable land that he will donate just south of the Capital. And in is place in Osaka he built Osaka Castle. This wasn't done peacefully, but the Gomonshu relinquished and agreed to the move. So the Hongwanji moved for its final time to its present site in Kyoto.

(A side note: the Gomonshu's oldest son, against his father's command, continued the fight, and later he was not given the title of Gomonshu. Shortly after, when Tokugawa Ieyasu gained control of Japan and became Shogun, did this son because Gomonshu of Higashi Hongwanji.)


Because Hideyoshi was a believer in Jodo Shinshu, he gave to the Hongwanji many possessions that he had controled. Within the Hongwanji compound today is the Floating Cloud Pavilion. Since the Ashikaga shoguns previously build pavilions of their own, Gold and Silver, Hideyoshi built for hiimself a "teahouse." The design of the Floating Cloud Pavilion have both Chinese and traditional Japanese elements in it. Hideyoshi, himself, was a follower of Tea and was a student of Sen no Rikyu, the founder of Senke schools of Tea. See earlier post on "Rikyu." There is also a tea house and a bell tower within the garden.

The Hongwanji also has many other treasures, which combined are National Treasures of Japan. The Hongwanji has several Noh stages, and the famous Karamon Gate of Kirin. It has the Imperial crest on it as it was used by Imperial messengers. The Kirin on the gate was also the inspiration for the Kirin brand of beer

The Hongwanji was instrumental in continuing the traditions of two cultural arts of Japan, Noh and Chanoyu.

Gassho,