help save Japan’s visual heritage of daily life
support
80130-0007 - Buddhist Monks in Japan, 1930s

Kyoto 1930s
Buddhist Monks

Artist Unknown
Publisher Unknown
Medium Gelatin Silver Print
Period Showa
Location Kyoto
Image No. 80130-0007
Purchase Digital File
Author

Buddhist monks walk in procession on the grounds of Tofuku-ji, a buddhist temple in Kyoto.

The writing on their bags reads Daihonzan Tofuku-ji Hondo Saiken (大本山東福寺本堂再建), “reconstruction of the hondo (main hall) of Daihonzan Tofuku-ji.” They were apparently on their way to the city to collect donations for reconstruction work on the temple.

Daihonzan Tofuku-ji is the head temple of the Tofuku-ji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. Originally established in 1236 and constructed between 1236 and 1255, it was destroyed by fires in 1319, 1334, and 1336. In the late 1350s it was rebuilt according to its original plans.

When chancellor Kujo Michiie (九条道家, 1192–1252) established the temple, he was inspired by Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji, two major temples in Nara. Tofuku-ji’s name was actually created by combining the characters for To of Todai-ji and Fuku of Kofuku-ji.

Although a fire once again devastated the temple in 1881 (Meiji 14), it was reconstructed. The reconstruction work took place over several decades and was finally completed in 1934 (Showa 9). This image is a wonderful historical document of some of the fund-raising that took place for this reconstruction.

The temple still survives and is a representative example of a medieval Zen temple. It is one of the largest and most important of the Kyoto Zen temples.1

see current map

I haven’t found the exact location where this photograph was taken yet, so the Google map shows the location of Tofukuji.

Notes

1 Rinzai-Obaku Zen. Temple Name: Tofuku-ji 東福寺. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.

Published
Updated

Leave a Comment

Reader Supported

Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.

To enhance our understanding of Japanese culture and society I track down, acquire, archive, and research images of everyday life, and give them context.

I share what I have found for free on this site, without ads or selling your data.

Your support helps me to continue doing so, and ensures that this exceptional visual heritage will not be lost and forgotten.

Thank you,
Kjeld Duits

support

Reference for Citations

Duits, Kjeld (). Kyoto 1930s: Buddhist Monks, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on February 10, 2025 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/210/buddhist-monks

Explore More

…

1920s
Fire Drill

A rare view of firemen drilling with mechanized pumps at what appears to be a factory.

…

1880s
Woman in Kimono

A beautiful portrait of a woman in kimono. This photograph was extremely popular during the late 1800s and has been attributed to just about every major photographer who was active during that time.

…

1920s
Saving Battleship Mikasa

This photo doesn’t really appear special or important. Just a Japanese man wearing glasses posing next to a photo of a ship. But when I dug a little deeper, I discovered something extraordinary.

Add Comment

There are currently no comments on this article.