Ōtani Kōzui

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Count Otani Kozui (大谷 光瑞, Ōtani Kōzui^?, Buddhist name: 鏡如 Kyōnyo) (27 December 1876-5 October 1948) was the 22nd Abbot of the West Honganji Monastery of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect in Kyoto, Japan. He is known for expeditions to Buddhist sites in Central Asia, such as Subashi.

Between 1902 and 1910, he financed 3 expeditions to Central Asia although his participation was stopped for his succession. Ōtani was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and played host to several of his fellow Central Asian explorers, such as Sven Hedin and Albert von Le Coq. His collection, often called "Otani collection" is still considered important in Central Asian studies, although it is today scattered in Tokyo, Kyoto, China and [Korea]. In addition to his spiritual responsibilities and his Central Asian activities, Otani wrote about China, Manchuria and Chinese porcelain.

While playing the Great Game, British and Russian intelligence both suspected that his archaeological expeditions were little more than covers for espionage activities.

After his father Myonyo's death, he succeeded the Abbot of the West Honganji Monastery in 1903. While he continued to sponsor the expeditions, he devoted himself to the modernization of the Jodo Shinshu sect. His sponsorship, however, brought huge amounts of debt to his sect. A financial scandal of the monastery also forced him to abdicate in 1914. His nephew Shonyo became 23rd Abbot.

[edit] See also

• Expeditions of Count Otani

[edit] Reference

• Hopkirk, Peter (1980). Foreign Devils on the Silk Road: The Search for the Lost Cities and Treasures of Chinese Central Asia. Amherst: The University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN 0-87023-435-8.