Nishi Honganji

Nishi Hongan-ji 西本願寺
Amidadō (National Treasure of Japan)
Basic information
Location	60 Horikawa-dōri Hanaya-chō Kudaru Honganji Monzen-machi, Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Affiliation	Jōdo Shinshū
Deity	Amida Nyorai (Amitābha)
Country	Japan
Website	http://www.hongwanji.or.jp/english/
Architectural description
Founder	Honganji Kennyo
Completed	1591

Nishi Hongan-ji (西本願寺, Nishi Hongan-ji^?) "Western Temple of the Original Vow" is one of two temple complexes of Jōdo Shinshū in Kyoto, Japan, the other being Higashi Honganji, or "Eastern Temple of the Original Vow". Jōdo Shinshū is a school of Pure Land Buddhism, and today Nishi Hongan-ji serves as the head temple of the Jōdo Shinshū organization. As with many sites in Kyoto, they have more casual names, and are known affectionately in Kyoto as Onissan (お西さん^?, Dear Mr. West) and Ohigashisan (お東さん^?, Dear Mr. East).

Nishi Honganji was established in 1602 by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ieyasu split the main Honganji in Kyoto into two temples, Nishi Hongan-ji and Higashi Hongan-ji, in order to diminish the power of the Jōdo Shinshu sect. Nishi Hongan-ji is listed as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.