Ryokei Ohnishi

Head of the Northern Hosso sect. Born in Nara Prefecture. Secular name Onishi Hiroji. After studying at Koriyama Middle School, he entered Kofuku-ji Temple, the head temple of the Hosso sect, in 1889 (Meiji 22). He studied the Hosso sect's "Yuishikigaku" (Yuishiki school of thought) at Kangakuin Temple in Horyu-ji Temple. In 1899, he was promoted to the head priest of Kofuku-ji Temple and to the rank of Daisojo, and in 1905, he became the head priest of the Hosso sect. In 1914 (Taisho 3), he also served as the head priest of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, and in 1942 (Showa 17), he devoted himself to the position of head priest of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. In 1965, in order to promote the academic tradition of Yuishikigaku, he founded the Northern Hosso sect, with Kiyomizu-dera Temple as its head temple. In 1954, he formed the Kyoto Buddhist Conference with about 300 religious leaders and scientists, and served as its chairman. In 1957, he became the chairman of the Japanese Council of Religious Leaders for Peace. He also devoted himself to welfare for the elderly, establishing the first nursing home in Kyoto in 1921. He devoted his life spanning a century from the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods to the promotion of Buddhism, and was passionate about world peace and elderly welfare. He received the Asahi Social Welfare Award in 1975. He passed away on February 15, 1983.

[Editorial Department, May 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北法相宗管長。奈良県生まれ。俗名大西広次。郡山(こおりやま)中学で学んで、1889年（明治22）法相宗大本山の興福寺へ入寺。法隆寺勧学院で法相宗「唯識(ゆいしき)学」を学ぶ。1899年興福寺住職、大僧正に昇格、1905年法相宗管長。1914年（大正3）から京都の清水(きよみず)寺住職兼務、1942年（昭和17）から清水寺住職に専念する。1965年唯識の学風を高めるため、清水寺を本山とする北法相宗を創設。1954年宗教者、科学者約300人と京都仏教徒会議を結成して理事長を務める。1957年日本宗教者平和協議会会長に就任。老人福祉にも尽力し、1921年には京都で初の老人ホームを設立し、明治、大正、昭和と1世紀にわたる生涯を仏教の興隆に尽くし、世界平和と老人福祉に情熱を燃やした。1975年朝日社会福祉賞を受賞。1983年2月15日没。

［編集部　2017年5月19日］

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