Kameyama Hontoku-ji, Buddhist temple in Himeji, Japan
Kameyama Hontoku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Himeji with a main hall, study rooms, living quarters, and a sutra repository on its grounds. The complex spreads across a large area and shows the typical layout of an established Buddhist community.
The temple moved to Kameyama in 1580 during Hideyoshi's military campaign, which reshaped the region, and became the main center for Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Harima province. This relocation marked a turning point in the place's importance for the local religious community.
The temple holds important cultural objects, including a four-volume illustrated scroll depicting the life of Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. These items reflect the deep connection the place has to the Jodo Shinshu tradition.
The temple is easy to reach on foot from Kameyama Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway. A short walk leads visitors directly to the entrance in Himeji.
The main hall has an unusual gable entrance because it was rebuilt in 1868 using materials from the North Assembly Hall of Nishi Hongwanji temple. This architectural feature connects the history of two major Jodo Shinshu centers within its structure.
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