Honmyō-ji

Honmyōji 本妙寺

Basic information
Location	4-13-1, Hanazono, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0072
Affiliation	Nichiren Buddhism, Rokujōmonryū
Country	Japan
Website	http://www.honmyouji.jp/
Architectural description
Founder	Katō Kiyomasa, Nisshin (日真) (present temple)
Completed	1614

Honmyō-ji (本妙寺) is a Buddhist temple of the Nichiren sect, Rokujōmon-ryū (六条門流), in Nishi-ku, Kumamoto, Japan. It is the most high-ranking temple of the sect in Kyushu. In Honmyō-ji is the grave of Katō Kiyomasa, (1562–1611), a Japanese daimyo, builder of Kumamoto Castle and a dedicated buddhist of Nichiren Buddhism.

The temple

Honmyō-ji consists of two parts, the grave of Katō Kiyomasa which is called Jōchibyō, and Honmyō-ji temple. He was a dedicated believer of Nichiren Buddhism. There is a straight road beginning at Kamikumamoto, through a big torii, dotted with 12 smaller temples called tatchū, leading to the Honmyō-ji temple. From the temple, a steep slope begins, which is called Munatsuki Gangi, consisting of 176 stone steps, leading to the grave. On the central part of the road are many stone lantern structures, contributed by believers. People pray before the altar of the grave of Katō Kiyomasa. There is a museum housing various traditional items of historical importance. There is a big statue of Katō Kiyomasa, 300 steps upwards.

Tonsha-e

On July 23, one day before the death day of Katō Kiyomasa, a festival is observed which is called Tonsha-e. It is observed to console the spirit of Katō Kiyomasa, by writing the long Lotus Sutra during one night by many priests.

History

The original temple was built in 1585 in Osaka to console the spirit of the father of Katō Kiyomasa. The temple in Osaka was moved to Kumamoto Castle in 1600 and the grave of Katō Kiyomasa, which is called Jōchibyō was built in the present site of Mount Nakao in 1611. The temple in Kumamoto Castle was burned, and was moved to the present site considerably under the grave of Katō Kiyomasa in 1614. In 1871, the shinto shrine part grave was moved to Kumamoto Castle in the name of Katō Shrine under the policy of the separation of shintoism and buddhism. During the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, the temple was partly burnt. Later the temple and the grave were reconstructed. Throughout the Edo period and Meiji period, the temple attracted many people from Kumamoto for recreation.

Either since the Edo period or Meiji period, leprosy patients had gathered around the temple, for they could live, begging money from many people coming to the temple.

Around 1930, there occurred the "No Leprosy Patients in Our Prefecture" movement and the Government intended to hospitalize all leprosy patients in sanatoriums. On July 9, 1940, 157 leprosy patients living around Honmyō-ji temple were forcibly hospitalized into many sanatoriums throughout the country.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Honmyoji (Kumamoto).

Buddhist temples in Japan

Japanese Buddhist architecture

Architectonic elements	hidden roof hisashi irimoya kaerumata: see nakazonae kairō karahafu karesansui kentozuka: see nakazonae komainu katōmado mokoshi moya nakazonae Niō or Kongōrikishi sandō shichidō garan shōrō sōrin tokyō tōrō onigawara

Mon (gates)	karamon nijūmon niōmon rōmon sanmon sōmon torii

Buildings	Chinjusha chōzuya/temizuya -dō main hall (kon-dō, hon-dō, butsuden) kuri kyōzō or kyō-dō shoin

Japanese pagodas	gorintō hōkyōintō hōtō kasatōba sotōba muhōtō tahōtō

Styles	Daibutsuyō Wayō Setchūyō Shoin-zukuri Shin-Wayō Zenshūyō Ōbaku Zen architecture

Others	A-un ken

Schools and objects of worship

Major schools	Jōdo Nichiren Shingon Tendai

Zen schools	Sōtō Ōbaku Rinzai

Nanto rokushū	Jōjitsu Hossō Kusha Kegon Ritsu Sanron

Objects of worship	Amida Nyōrai Benzaiten Dainichi Nyorai Jizō Kannon Marishi-ten Shaka Nyorai Shitennō (Four Kings) Twelve Heavenly Generals (Jūni Shinshō) Yakushi Nyorai

Other elements

Implements	kei (ritual gong) mokugyō

Others	bussokuseki butsudan Glossary of Japanese Buddhism Japanese Buddhist pantheon jingū-ji miyadera saisenbako

Coordinates: 32°49′01″N 130°41′22″E / 32.81694°N 130.68944°E / 32.81694; 130.68944

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.