Otani Kocho (大谷光暢)
Kocho
OTANI (October 1, 1903 - April 13, 1993) was a monk in the Jodo Shin (True Pure
Land) sect of Buddhism, and he was the 24th Hoshu (high priest) (Monshu (representative priest)
later) of Higashi Hongan-ji Temple. Formerly a Count. His ingo (a title
given to a Buddhist) was 'Taicho'onin' (also 'Mujodoin').
His homyo (a posthumous Buddhist name used in Jodo Shin sect) (Jodo Shin
Buddhism) was 'Sennyo.'
His gago (pseudonym) was 'Guko.'
His childhood name was 'Koyomaro.'
He
was born on October 1, 1903, as the eldest son of Koen OTANI, the 23rd Hoshu. On May 3, 1924, while he was a student at Otani University he married Satoko OTANI, who was the third daughter of Prince Kuninomiya
Kuniyoshi and a younger sister of Empress Kojun. He became a younger
brother-in-law of Emperor Showa. In September of 1925, he assumed his position
as the 24th Hoshu as a successor to his father, Shonyo, who stepped down in order to take responsibility for
financial problems. In 1947, he formed a choir 'Otani Gakuen' with his wife,
Satoko, the urakata (spouse of the current Monshu). He actively implemented
edification using Buddhist music. In 1949, he held Rennyo Shonin's 450th Memorial Service. In 1961, he held Founder
Shinran Shonin's 700th Memorial Service. In April of 1969, he
announced that he would 'hand down to my eldest son, Kosho OTANI Shinmon, only
the position of Kancho (head priest) among the positions of Hoshu, Hongan-ji Temple Jushoku (chief priest) and Kancho I
jointly hold' (Kaishin Incident). Triggered by the Kaishin Incident he
confronted Naikyoku (intra-ministerial bureau) of Shin Sect Otani School, which
was led by the reformist group, regarding issues such as the interpretation of
the teaching, the administrative policies of the School and problems of their
assets. In June of 1981, even though there were more than a few supporters
of Shonyo, he lost the dispute to the Naikyoku, and the 'Shuken
(constitution) of Shin Sect Otani School (religious laws which are equivalent
to constitutions in the School)' was revised, and his position shifted from 'Hoshu', which is the absolute leader of the religious order
who succeeds to the traditions originating from Shinran, the founder, to 'Monshu,' who is a symbolic
representative of monks and followers of the entire order but does not hold any authority. Even after losing his
power as the leader in the order, Shonyo continued to dismiss these movements as acts
against the traditions of Hongan-ji Temple, and after he was made Monshu he barely made
any public appearances. In 1987, Naikyoku legally dissolved the religious order
'Honganji' and incorporated it into a religious corporation, 'Shinshu Otaniha
(Shin Sect Otani School).'
The official name of (the incorporated religious order) 'Honganji (Higashi
Honganji)' became 'Shinshu Honbyo.'