WAUKoyasanbuddhistchurchPHColl763.xml Guide to the Photographs of Koyasan Shingon Temples in North America approximately 1949-1980 Koyasan Shingon Temples in North America Photographs of Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2010 (Last modified: 1/31/2020)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH0763 Photographs of Koyasan Shingon temples in North America approximately 1949-1980 17 photographic prints; 2 pieces of ephemera (1 box and 1 oversize folder) ; various sizes Collection materials are in English, Japanese,and Chinese. Photographs of groups at the Koyasan Buddhist Church in Seattle, Oregon, and Northern California, 1949-1980

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.

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.

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

View selections from the collection in digital format.

The collection is open to the public.

Request at UW

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

Source: Fairlook Antiques, November 18, 2004.

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

 Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Photographic prints Photographs Religion Seattle Oregon California

 

Seattle Koyasan Church OS5 1 Group at Tanaka Gaizo's funeral, Seattle Tanaka Taki, Ochi Studio, Seattle, Washington November 2, 1949

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."

 1/1 2 Church group in front of a house Richmond October 1963

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."

 1/1 3 Church group in front of a house October 8, 1972

Color print.

 OS5 4 Church group in front of Seattle Koyasan Church undated Oregon Koyasan Church 1/2 5 Church group in front of a house June 12,1955

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]"

 1/2 6 Four masters sitting on an altar June 12, 1955 1/2 7 Church group in front of a house June 17, 1956

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]

 1/2 8-9 Group in front of the Oregon Koyasan Church June 17, 1962

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

 1/2 10-12 Women reciting the Buddhist Scripture in the ceremony June 1962 1/2 13 Group waiting in line near the church undated 1/2 14 Group in front of the Oregon Koyasan Church undated

Color print.

 Northern California Koyasan Church 1/3 15 Group inside the church June 19, 1978

Color print.

 1/3 16 Group in front of the Northern California Koyasan Church April 19, 1979

Color print.

 1/3 17 Group in front of the Northern California Koyasan Church November 2, 1980

The Chinese writing on a sign in the photo: "the memorial ceremony for the sixtith anniversary of Koyasan Daishi Mission and the tenth anniversary of the Church building."

Color print.

 Ephemera 1/4 18 Envelope with Japanese handwriting undated

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].

 1/4 19 Payment ledger 1949-1954

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