Doryu Kitabatake

Background

Doryu Kitabatake was born in Kii (Wakayama Prefecture).

Career

After the Meiji Restoration (1868) studied German at Kyoto and founded a private school at Tokyo. Fell foul of the Government and was imprisoned for siding with the rebels led by Takamori Saig (1877). After Doryu Kitabatake was pardoned, he gave up politics and devoted himself to reforms in Buddhism, for which purpose he made a tour of Europe, America and India (1881). Is said to have discovered Sakya's tomb while in India. Returning home pushed for reforms in Buddhism. Is the author of over 10 books on Buddhism.

Achievements

• Distinguished himself as a leader of Buddhist troops during the Totsu River Incident (the Tenchiigumi troupe led by Tesseki Fujimoto, Keid Matsumoto and others rose in revolt against the Tokugawa Shogunate at Totsu River, Nara Prefecture, in 1863).