Otani University: Institution Main

About Otani University:

Otani University (大谷大学) was founded in 1665 as the seminary of Higashi Hongan-ji, which the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu founded in 1602 by splitting it from Nishi Hongan-ji in an effort to diminish the power of the Shin sect of Buddhism. The seminary was strengthened and revived in 1755, and developed a broader curriculum throughout the 19th century.  In 1901, the seminary became a university known as Shinshu University, which in 1922 was again renamed and became Otani University. 

The university has Faculty of Letters and a graduate program with an emphasis on Buddhist studies. In addition, a two-year private junior college is associated with the university.

A number of its collections are designated as Important Cultural Properties, please see details and links in the Summary of Collections box.