Buddhist Temples of Kyoto and Kamakura

Contributing Author

Beatrice Lane Suzuki † [+–]

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was a very well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism and the American wife of the well-known Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu. She lived in Japan for many years and came to know the leading temple centres of various Buddhist schools – especially in Kyōto and Kamakura – very well.

Edited by

Michael Pye [+–]

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Michael Pye is Professor (emeritus) at Marburg University and a visiting Research Associate of Ōtani University in Kyōto. His writings have ranged widely over problems in the study of religions, studies in Buddhist thought and many aspects of contemporary Japanese religion. His major publications include Skilful Means and Emerging from Meditation.

Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist. The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Series: Eastern Buddhist Voices

Prelims

List of Illustrations [+–] ix – x

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schoolsâespecially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzukiâs own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Preface with Acknowledgements [+–] xi – xii

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Conventions on Names, Titles and Scripts [+–] xiii – xiv

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

A Note on The Eastern Buddhist [+–] xv – xvi

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Introduction

1 Introduction [+–] 1 – 10

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today. In this chapter, the editor discusses the life and career of Beatrice Lane Suzuki as a Mahāyāna Buddhism expositor, as well as explaining the structure of this book.

Part I Temples of the Eastern Hills in Kyōto

2 Kiyomizudera [+–] 11 – 18

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author focuses on describing the temple Kiyomizu, placed in Kyoto. Her main concerns are with the architecture and history of the temple in relation to the Buddhist meanings these aspects can evoke.

3 Nanzenji [+–] 19 – 22

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author focuses on the history of the Zen temple, Nanzenji.

4 Ginkakuji [+–] 23 – 28

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

This chapter describes the history and architecture of the temple of Jishōji, known as Ginkakuji.

5 Higashiyama Temples Today [+–] 29 – 42

Patricia Yamada

In this chapter, the author illustrates the beauty of the Higashiyama Temples in the past and today. To do so she reveals the history of the place where they are settled and, therefore, the temples.

Part II Pure Land and True Pure Land temples

6 Chion-in [+–] 43 – 48

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author describes the architecture and history of Chion-in, a temple settled in the Jōdo sect in Kyōto and founded in 1211.

7 Higashi Honganji [+–] 49 – 54

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author focuses on the Honganji branch in Buddhism and how they split in the 16th century, when the abbot Shinran Shōnin abdicated his position and founded a new temple.

8 Temple Celebrations at Chion-in and Higashi Honganji [+–] 55 – 60

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

This chapter is dedicated to describe the celebrations held at the Chion-in and Higashi Honganji temples.

Part III Zen Temples in Kyōto and Kamakura

9 Tōfukuji [+–] 61 – 64

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author describes the temple Tōfukuji, founded in 1236. This temple one of the most important monasteries of the Zen sect in Kyōto.

10 Tōfukuji Today [+–] 65 – 70

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

In this chapter, the author compares her description of the Tōfukuji temple as it is nowadays and the one written by Beatrice Suzuki in the beginning of the 20th century.

11 Myōshinji [+–] 71 – 78

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author describes the Myōshinji temple, settled in the western part of Kyōto.

12 Myōshinji Today [+–] 79 – 82

Hillary Pedersen

Kobe University

In this chapter, the author gives a new perspective of the Myōshinji temple in comparison to the description given by Beatrice Lane in the beginning of the 20th century.

13 Zen Temples of Kamakura [+–] 83 – 92

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author concentrates on discussing the Zen influence on Kamakura’s temples.

14 Engakuji and Kenchōji: The Social Morphology of Two Kamakura Temples [+–] 93 – 104

A.W. Sadler

In this chapter, the author describes two temple monasteries of the Rinzai Zen tradition, located in Kamakura.

Part IV Temples of Shingon Buddhism

15 Tōji [+–] 105 – 110

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author describes the Kogi Shingon sect temple of Tōji and its impressive architecture.

16 Mount Kōya [+–] 111 – 118

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

This chapter is dedicated to discuss the Buddhist traditions around the mount Kōya, a place discovered by Kōbō Daishi, the founder of the Shingon sect, who saw in its mysticism an ideal place to create a temple.

17 Mount Kōya Today [+–] 119 – 120

Elizabeth Tinsley

Columbia University/ Otani University

In this chapter, the author concentrates on discussing the changes that happened in Kōya since the beginning of the 20th century.

18 Kōbō Daishi, the Saint of Shingon [+–] 121 – 128

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author discusses the Kōbō Daishi’s biography and how he became the founder of the Shingon sect.

Part V Temples of the Nichiren Tradition

19 Nichiren and Kamakura [+–] 129 – 136

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

This chapter discusses the life of the monk Nichiren, who founded the Nichiren Buddhism.

20 Nichiren Temples in Kyōto: Honkokuji [+–] 137 – 140

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author focuses on presenting the history and architecture of the Nichiren temples, founded by the monk Nichiren who created the Lotus Sūtra. The text concentrates on the Honkokuji temple, in Kyōto.

21 Nichiren Temples in Kyōto: Honnōji [+–] 141 – 148

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

This chapter focuses on the Nichiren temple, Honnōji. Situated in Kyōto, the temple was founded by Nichiryū in 1416 and is a very rich temple, ornate with gold and a life-sized statue of Nichiren.

Part VI More Temples and Shrines of Kamakura

22 Historic Temples of Kamakura [+–] 149 – 158

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author emphasizes the beauty of the Kamakura temples and how some of them survived the intemperances of time and remained intact. Some were destroyed by earthquakes or fires, therefore today their ruins are the only indication of their existence.

23 Bodhisattvas and Buddhas of Kamakura [+–] 159 – 166

Beatrice Lane Suzuki †

In this chapter, the author focuses on describing the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (enlightenment being) representations placed in Kamakura.

Character List for Historical Persons

Character List for Historical Persons [+–] 167 – 176

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Details of Original Publication

Details of Original Publication [+–] 177 – 180

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Further Bibliographical Notes

Further Bibliographical Notes [+–] 181 – 182

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Index

Index [+–] 183 – 203

Michael Pye

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

Beatrice Lane Suzuki (1878-1939) was an extremely well informed and sensitive expositor of Mahāyāna Buddhism. As the American wife of the influential Zen Buddhist Suzuki Daisetsu, she lived in Japan for many years, becoming very familiar with the leading temples of various Buddhist schools—especially in Kyōto and Kamakura. Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura brings together some of her writings from The Eastern Buddhist . The collection preserves valuable information from Suzuki’s own times and the charm of her personal discovery of the temples described here. Further information is also provided to place them in their current context. The volume will be of interest to scholars of Japanese Buddhism and to the many travelers to these sites today.

Reviews

In this book it is a pleasure to learn about famous temples like Kiyomizudera, Ginkakuji, Engakuji, Mount Koya and others. But it’s useful in the classroom as well. Her essays remain invaluable for giving students a first-hand view of the architectural, religious, and literary riches tied to these famous Buddhist temples.
Religious Studies Review

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Books and Journals in Humanities, Social Science and Performing Arts

Buddhist Temples of Kyōto and Kamakura

Beatrice Lane Suzuki † [+–]

Michael Pye [+–]

Marburg University, (Emeritus) and Otani University

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