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Photographs of Koyasan Shingon temples in North America, approximately 1949-1980

Overview of the Collection

Title
Photographs of Koyasan Shingon temples in North America
Dates
approximately 1949-1980 (inclusive)
Quantity
17 photographic prints; 2 pieces of ephemera (1 box and 1 oversize folder) ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0763
Summary
Photographs of groups at the Koyasan Buddhist Church in Seattle, Oregon, and Northern California, 1949-1980
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Request at UW

Languages
English,, Japanese,, Chinese
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Historical Background

In 1920, a Buddhist group, Sacramento Daishiko was initiated and organized by Toshi Yamamoto, Sakuma Shimada and Eiju Nakashimaat at Yamamoto's farmhouse near the present site of William Land Park, California. As the membership grew, the group moved to several places over years and also built shrines around the West coast area, including Oregon and Seattle. In 1970, two Daishiko group were merged into one religious organization; they purchased an old Italian church and remodeled it as the current Koyasan Buddhist Church in Northern California.

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Content Description

The collection is comprised of photographs of the Koyasan Buddhist Church in Seattle, Oregon, and Northern California during 1949-1980. It documents the groups and activities including ceremonies and a funeral cult. Two pieces of ephemera, one envelope with Japanese handwriting and a record of payment book from Yoshitoshi Toyomasu's account with Seattle First Bank, are possibly associated with the photographs.

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Other Descriptive Information

Several photographs have handwriting in Japanese, Chinese, and English, indicating the date and the title of the church activities.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques, November 18, 2004.

Processing Note

Processed by Meng-fan Lu; processing completed in 2008.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Seattle Koyasan Church

    • Description: Group at Tanaka Gaizo's funeral, Seattle
      Tanaka Taki, Ochi Studio, Seattle, Washington (Photographer)

      Handwriting in Japanese and Chinese on the back of the photo: "the photo memorialized the funeral ritual which Master Takahashi ministered for Tanaka Gaizo in Butterworth Funeral Home, Seattle at November 2, 1949. Tanaka Taki photographed. Koyasan Buddhist Church, Seattle."

      Dates: November 2, 1949
      Container: Box folder:oversize OS5, Item 1
    • Description: Church group in front of a house
      Richmond (photographer)

      Handwriting in Japanese and Chinese on the photo: "the memory of the fifth anniversary of Master's lecture in Seattle." Hand script in Chinese on the top right corner of the photo: "October, 1963."

      Dates: October 1963
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Item 2
    • Description: Church group in front of a house

      Color print.

      Dates: October 8, 1972
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1, Item 3
    • Description: Church group in front of Seattle Koyasan Church
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box folder:oversize OS5, Item 4
  • Oregon Koyasan Church

    • Description: Church group in front of a house

      Handwriting in Japanese on the photo, the partial meaning is: "the Aoba Sai [a ceremony celebrates the birth of Master Kukai who established the denomination of Buddhism], Gosatou [the title represents Buddhist masters in different levels] and Iroha Sai [another Buddhist ceremony]"

      Dates: June 12,1955
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 5
    • Dates: June 12, 1955
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 6
    • Description: Church group in front of a house

      Handwriting in Japanese on the photo, the approximate meaning is: for the memory of the visit of Master "Gon-Dai-Sou-Jou" [the title represents Buddhist masters in different levels] Kagao joining the Aoba Sai [a ceremony celebrates the birth of Master Kukai who established the denomination of Buddhism]

      Dates: June 17, 1956
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 7
    • Description: Group in front of the Oregon Koyasan Church

      The sign in the photo says: "the tenth anniversary of establishment."

      Dates: June 17, 1962
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 8-9
    • Dates: June 1962
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 10-12
    • Description: Group waiting in line near the church
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 13
    • Description: Group in front of the Oregon Koyasan Church

      Color print.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2, Item 14
  • Northern California Koyasan Church

  • Ephemera

    • Description: Envelope with Japanese handwriting

      The handwriting is translated to: 88 stops in Shikoku. Donation. ["88 stops" indicates the 88 Buddhist temples in Shikoku, which represents the route of Master Kukai's annual visit].

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 18
    • Description: Payment ledger

      The payment ledger detailed Yoshitoshi Toyomasu's account with Seattle First National Bank between 1949 and 1954

      Dates: 1949-1954
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4, Item 19

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Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
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