Bukko-ji
Encyclopedia
, also known as the Temple of the Buddha Light, was originally named Kosho-ji, a Jodo Shinshu
temple in Yamashina-ku
, Kyoto
, which later moved to the heart of Kyoto. The temple was founded and officially opened by Ryōgen
in 1324. The name Kosho-ji was given to Ryōgen for the temple by Kakunyo
, Hongan-ji
's first head priest. While Bukkō-ji is technically an independent Jodo Shinshu
branch it has had close links to the Hongan-ji
lineage since the time of Rennyo
.
's teachings. So when Kosho-ji was established in 1324, it was not done so under the blessing of Hongan-ji. Zonkaku was a priest along with Ryōgen in the formative years of the temple.
In 1329 the following at Kosho-ji outgrew the building's capacity, and the building was relocated to Kyoto very close to Hongan-ji. Zonkaku renamed the temple Bukkō-ji, so as to disassociate it further from Kukanyo.
In the coming decade Bukkō-ji became more successful than Hongan-ji, and Ryōgen was travelling into new provinces teaching Hōnen and Shinran
's message. In 1336, while out in the provinces, Ryōgen was murdered by a group of bandits. Genran (1318–1347), Ryōgen's son, took over the temple but died shortly after.
There were several differences between the way Jodo Shinshu was practiced at Bukkō-ji. To start, the temple head usually was married and the wife retained almost as much stature as her husband in the organization. Also, the temple administered teachings to men and women (mostly peasants). It also had followers in several outlying areas, indicating there were affiliated temples in those areas.
From the time of the temple's founding until Rennyo unified many of these splinter cells, Bukkō-ji spread its teachings to the provinces of Tōtōmi
, Iga
, Ise
, Owari
and Mikawa
. But when Rennyo took control of Hongan-ji, the Bukkō-ji lost many members to him. Kyogo (d.1490), who was set to take over Bukkō-ji during this time, left Bukkō-ji to train under Rennyo at Hongan-ji. Kyogo went on to found his own temple in affiliation with Hongan-ji he called Kosho-ji, the original name intended for Bukkō-ji. This move attracted yet more Bukkō-ji adherents away.
Jodo Shinshu
, also known as Shin Buddhism, is a school of Pure Land Buddhism. It was founded by the former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran. Today, Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan.-Shinran :...
temple in Yamashina-ku
Yamashina-ku, Kyoto
is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It lies in the southeastern part of the city, and Yamashina Station is one stop away from Kyoto Station on the Tōkaidō Main Line ....
, Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, which later moved to the heart of Kyoto. The temple was founded and officially opened by Ryōgen
Ryogen
' was a chief abbot of Enryakuji in the 10th century, and the founder of the tradition of sōhei warrior monks....
in 1324. The name Kosho-ji was given to Ryōgen for the temple by Kakunyo
Kakunyo
Kakunyo is the great-grandson of Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and the third caretaker, or Monshu of the family mausoleum, which gradually became the Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto, Japan...
, Hongan-ji
Hongan-ji
, also archaically romanized as Hongwanji, is the collective name of the largest school of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism...
's first head priest. While Bukkō-ji is technically an independent Jodo Shinshu
Jodo Shinshu
, also known as Shin Buddhism, is a school of Pure Land Buddhism. It was founded by the former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran. Today, Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan.-Shinran :...
branch it has had close links to the Hongan-ji
Hongan-ji
, also archaically romanized as Hongwanji, is the collective name of the largest school of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism...
lineage since the time of Rennyo
Rennyo
' was the 8th Monshu, or head-priest, of the Hongwanji Temple of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism, and descendant of founder Shinran. Jodo Shinshu Buddhists often referred to as the restorer of the sect , and for this is also referred to as Rennyo Shonin...
.
History
Kakunyo instructed his son Zonkaku to administer to Ryōgen religious training and Hongan-ji textual documents. Zonkaku and Ryōgen became good friends during this period, but by 1324 there was tension between Zonkaku and Kakunyo. Kakunyo disinherited his son and disassociated himself with Ryōgen due to differences in understanding Hōnen and ShinranShinran
was a Japanese Buddhist monk, who was born in Hino at the turbulent close of the Heian Period and lived during the Kamakura Period...
's teachings. So when Kosho-ji was established in 1324, it was not done so under the blessing of Hongan-ji. Zonkaku was a priest along with Ryōgen in the formative years of the temple.
In 1329 the following at Kosho-ji outgrew the building's capacity, and the building was relocated to Kyoto very close to Hongan-ji. Zonkaku renamed the temple Bukkō-ji, so as to disassociate it further from Kukanyo.
In the coming decade Bukkō-ji became more successful than Hongan-ji, and Ryōgen was travelling into new provinces teaching Hōnen and Shinran
Shinran
was a Japanese Buddhist monk, who was born in Hino at the turbulent close of the Heian Period and lived during the Kamakura Period...
's message. In 1336, while out in the provinces, Ryōgen was murdered by a group of bandits. Genran (1318–1347), Ryōgen's son, took over the temple but died shortly after.
There were several differences between the way Jodo Shinshu was practiced at Bukkō-ji. To start, the temple head usually was married and the wife retained almost as much stature as her husband in the organization. Also, the temple administered teachings to men and women (mostly peasants). It also had followers in several outlying areas, indicating there were affiliated temples in those areas.
From the time of the temple's founding until Rennyo unified many of these splinter cells, Bukkō-ji spread its teachings to the provinces of Tōtōmi
Totomi Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today western Shizuoka Prefecture. Tōtōmi bordered on Mikawa, Suruga and Shinano Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .-History:...
, Iga
Iga Province
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today western Mie Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Iga bordered on Ise, Ōmi, Yamato, and Yamashiro Provinces.-Geography:...
, Ise
Ise Province
or was a province of Japan including most of modern Mie Prefecture. Ise bordered Iga, Kii, Mino, Ōmi, Owari, Shima, and Yamato Provinces.The ancient provincial capital was at Suzuka...
, Owari
Owari Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of present day Aichi Prefecture, including much of modern Nagoya. Its abbreviation is Bishū .-History:The province was created in 646....
and Mikawa
Mikawa Province
is an old province in the area that today forms the eastern half of Aichi Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mikawa bordered on Owari, Mino, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Provinces....
. But when Rennyo took control of Hongan-ji, the Bukkō-ji lost many members to him. Kyogo (d.1490), who was set to take over Bukkō-ji during this time, left Bukkō-ji to train under Rennyo at Hongan-ji. Kyogo went on to found his own temple in affiliation with Hongan-ji he called Kosho-ji, the original name intended for Bukkō-ji. This move attracted yet more Bukkō-ji adherents away.
See also
- For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese BuddhismGlossary of Japanese BuddhismThis is the glossary of Japanese Buddhism, including major terms the casual reader might find useful in understanding articles on the subject. Words followed by an asterisk are illustrated by an image in one of the photo galleries...
.