The history of the Buzan sect of
Shingon begins with the establishment of
Hasedera. Although the founding of Hasedera is estimated to be in the Nara period, the details remain unclear. According to temple records, in the first year of Shuchō (686), during the reign of Emperor Tenmu, Dokei erected a three-story pagoda on the western hill of Hatsuseyama. In the fourth year of Jinki (727), it is said that the monk Tokudo enshrined a statue of
Ekādaśamukha (Juichimen-kannon) on the eastern hill (the current location of the main hall) and founded the temple, but this is considered within the realm of tradition. In the 14th year of Jōwa (847) on December 21, Hasedera was officially recognized as a fixed-amount temple, and on May 10, in the 2nd year of Ten'an (858), it was recorded that the three precepts were established. It is believed that during this period, Hasedera was recognized as an official temple, and an administrator was appointed. From the mid-Heian period onward, Hasedera attracted the faith of the aristocracy as a Kannon pilgrimage site. In the first year of Manju (1024), Fujiwara no Michinaga made a pilgrimage, and from the medieval period onwards, it spread its influence to warriors and commoners. Although originally a sub-temple of Todai-ji, during the mid-Heian period, it became a sub-temple of Kofuku-ji. In the 16th century, it followed the lineage of the Shinto Shingon school, and was established and propagated by Raimitsu. In the 16th year of Tensho (1588), followers of the reformed Shingon school, who were expelled from Negoro-ji due to Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attack, settled in Hasedera. Under the leadership of the sect's monk Sen'nyo, the Buzan sect was officially formed. Due to the Meiji government's religious policies, it merged with other Shingon sects in 1879. However, in September 1900, it regained independence as the Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism, with Hasedera as its head temple. ==Branches==