Monshu
Encyclopedia
The Monshu or keeper of the gate is a term sometimes used in Japanese Buddhism
to denote the head of a monastery, as in the case of Jōdo Shū
and Tendai
Buddhism, but in the case of the Nishi Honganji
sub-sect of Jōdo Shinshū
Buddhism, it refers to the spiritual leader of the sect, and direct descendant of its founder Shinran
.
Buddhism being the guardian of Shinran
's mausoleum, as well as the head of the sect started when the youngest daughter of Shinran, Kakushinni, installed her son to be the custodian of the small shrine which held Shinran's image and ashes at Ōtani (Kyoto).
In time the small shrine grew into what is now the Honganji temples (east and west) in Kyoto
, Japan. When the temple split into two temples, the West Temple, or Nishi Honganji continued to use the term Monshu, while the East Temple, or Higashi Honganji gradually adopted the term "Hossu".
In the line of Monshu descendants, noteworthy Monshū include:
As of writing, the current and 24th Monshu of the Nishi Honganji temple is Sokunyo Shōnin (Ōtani Kōshin, born 1945). When he retires, he will be succeeded by his son, the Shinmon (新門), Sennyo Shinmon (Ōtani Kōjun, born 1977).
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
to denote the head of a monastery, as in the case of Jōdo Shū
Jodo Shu
, also known as Jōdo Buddhism, is a branch of Pure Land Buddhism derived from the teachings of the Japanese ex-Tendai monk Hōnen. It was established in 1175 and is the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan, along with Jōdo Shinshū....
and Tendai
Tendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
Buddhism, but in the case of the Nishi Honganji
Nishi Honganji
or the "Western Temple of the Original Vow", is one of two temple complexes of Jodo Shinshu in Kyoto, the other being Higashi Honganji...
sub-sect of Jōdo Shinshū
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 :...
Buddhism, it refers to the spiritual leader of the sect, and direct descendant of its founder 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...
.
Jōdo Shinshū
The Monshu in Jōdo ShinshūJodo 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 :...
Buddhism being the guardian of 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 mausoleum, as well as the head of the sect started when the youngest daughter of Shinran, Kakushinni, installed her son to be the custodian of the small shrine which held Shinran's image and ashes at Ōtani (Kyoto).
In time the small shrine grew into what is now the Honganji temples (east and west) in 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:...
, Japan. When the temple split into two temples, the West Temple, or Nishi Honganji continued to use the term Monshu, while the East Temple, or Higashi Honganji gradually adopted the term "Hossu".
In the line of Monshu descendants, noteworthy Monshū include:
- KakunyoKakunyoKakunyo 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...
Shōnin (1270-1351), the 3rd Monshu, who first asserted the authority of the Honganji. - RennyoRennyo' 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...
Shōnin (1415-1499), the 8th Monshu, the so-called "Great Reformer". - Kyōnyo Shōnin (1558-1614), the 12th Monshu, oversaw the split of the Honganji temple and founded the East Temple, while his younger brother, Junnyo Shōnin, took over administration of the West Temple.
- Junnyo Shōnin (1577-1630), the 12th Monshu (Nishi Honganji), who build the Tsukiji Honganji temple in Tokyo.
- Shōnyo Shōnin (1911-2002), the 23rd Monshu (Nishi Honganji, noteworthy for his efforts to help spread Jōdo Shinshū teachings abroad.
As of writing, the current and 24th Monshu of the Nishi Honganji temple is Sokunyo Shōnin (Ōtani Kōshin, born 1945). When he retires, he will be succeeded by his son, the Shinmon (新門), Sennyo Shinmon (Ōtani Kōjun, born 1977).