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Onjô Kendô was a samurai scholar and Buddhist monk known for his exceptional devotion to his lord, [[Ii Naosuke]].

Onjô Kendô was a samurai scholar and Buddhist monk known for his exceptional devotion to his lord, [[Ii Naosuke]].

Born into a low-ranking samurai family in [[Hikone]] in [[1823]], he entered the domain's [[teppo|gunnery]] squad at the age of 15, but soon afterwards began studying medicine under a domain physician. He also studied painting, Confucianism, and [[Zen]] practice.

Born into a low-ranking samurai family in [[Hikone]] in [[1823]], Onjô Heiemon entered the domain's [[teppo|gunnery]] squad at the age of 15, but soon afterwards began studying medicine under a domain physician. He also studied painting, Confucianism, and [[Zen]] practice.

After the [[Sakuradamongai Incident]] in which his lord [[Ii Naosuke]] was killed, Onjô felt a deep sense of loyalty, and wished to devote himself further to his lord in some fashion. Feeling that following his lord in death by [[junshi|committing seppuku]] was "a dog's death," however, he decided to instead become a monk and devote himself to watching over Naosuke's grave.

After the [[Sakuradamongai Incident]] in which his lord [[Ii Naosuke]] was killed, Onjô felt a deep sense of loyalty, and wished to devote himself further to his lord in some fashion. Feeling that following his lord in death by [[junshi|committing seppuku]] was "a dog's death," however, he decided to instead become a monk and devote himself to watching over Naosuke's grave. He became a disciple of the head of [[Seiryo-ji|Seiryô-ji]], the [[Ii clan]] [[bodaiji|family temple]], and took on the monastic name Kendô.

 

In [[1865]], he moved to [[Edo]], leaving behind a wife and six children, and took up a position at the Ii clan temple of [[Gotoku-ji|Gôtoku-ji]], where he devoted himself to watching over Naosuke's grave, tidying and cleaning the cemetery, reciting sutras, and other such activities, for the next 37 years.

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