Honmyōji
Encyclopedia
is a Buddhist temple
of the Nichiren
sect, Rokujōmonryū, (六条門流) in Kumamoto
, Japan
. It is the most high ranking temple of the sect in Kyushu
. In Honmyōji is the grave of Katō Kiyomasa
, (1562-1611), a Japanese daimyo
, builder of Kumamoto Castle
and a dedicated buddhist of Nichiren Buddhism
.
which is called Jouchibyou, and Honmyōji 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 Honmyōji 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.
during one night by many priests.
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 Honmyōji temple were forcibly hospitalized into many sanatoriums throughout the country.
Buddhist temples in Japan
Along with Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples are the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan.The term "Shinto shrine" is used in opposition to "Buddhist temple" to mirror in English the distinction made in Japanese between Shinto and Buddhist religious structures. In...
of the Nichiren
Nichiren
Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myōhō-Renge-Kyō in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Nam-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō as the essential practice of the teaching...
sect, Rokujōmonryū, (六条門流) in Kumamoto
Kumamoto, Kumamoto
is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Greater Kumamoto has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is the most high ranking temple of the sect in Kyushu
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. In Honmyōji is the grave of Katō Kiyomasa
Kato Kiyomasa
was a Japanese daimyō of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo period.-Origins and early career:Kiyomasa was born in Owari Province to Katō Kiyotada. Kiyotada's wife, Ito, was a cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mother. Kiyotada died while his son was still young...
, (1562-1611), a Japanese daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
, builder of Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle
is a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
and a dedicated buddhist of Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Japanese monk Nichiren...
.
The temple
Honmyōji consisits of two parts, the grave of Katō KiyomasaKato Kiyomasa
was a Japanese daimyō of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo period.-Origins and early career:Kiyomasa was born in Owari Province to Katō Kiyotada. Kiyotada's wife, Ito, was a cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mother. Kiyotada died while his son was still young...
which is called Jouchibyou, and Honmyōji temple. He was a dedicated believer of Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Japanese monk Nichiren...
. There is a straight road beginning at Kamikumamoto, through a big torii
Torii
A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred...
, dotted with 12 smaller temples called tatchū, leading to the Honmyōji 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
Lantern
A lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
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 SutraLotus Sutra
The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
during one night by many priests.
History
The original temple was built in 1585 in OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
to console the spirit of the father of Katō Kiyomasa. The temple in Osaka was moved to Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle
is a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
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
Kumamoto Castle
is a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
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
Kumamoto Castle
is a hilltop Japanese castle located in Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture. It was a large and extremely well fortified castle. The is a concrete reconstruction built in 1960, but several ancillary wooden buildings remain of the original castle. Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier...
in the name of Katō Shrine under the policy of the separation of shintoism and buddhism. During the Satsuma Rebellion
Satsuma Rebellion
The was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
of 1877, the temple was partly burnt. Later the temple and the grave were reconstructed. Throughout the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
and Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
, the temple attracted many people from Kumamoto for recreation.
Either since the Edo period or Meiji period, leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
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 Honmyōji temple were forcibly hospitalized into many sanatoriums throughout the country.