Founded in 578 AD, the company has built some of the most iconic monuments, including Shitennō-ji, Japan’s first temple. Buddhist temple, as reported by Open Culture.
From Buddhism At that time, the temple was in its early stages and there were no craftsmen capable of building it in Japan. Prince Shōtoku invited a famous Korean builder named Shigemitsu Kongo to lead the project. He was commissioned to build Shitennō-ji in Osaka.
Osaka Castle, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, was already around a millennium old. As Open Culture reports, citing Works that Work, Irene Herrera wrote: “Since then, the castle has been repeatedly destroyed by fire and lightning. Kongō Gumi prospered thanks to these major reconstructions, which provided them with much work.”
Despite facing significant challenges such as World War II and the decline of Buddhism, Kongō Gumi has adapted to the changing times by turning its expertise to new ventures such as coffin making. In January 2006, the company became a subsidiary of Takamatsu Construction Group, but its traditional miyadaiku craft continues to thrive.
Currently, Kongō Gumi’s roster includes only one member of the Kongō family, the 41st head of the family. In 2020, Nikkei Asia reported: “Kongō Gumi’s current roster includes only one member of the Kongō family. A daughter of the 40th head of the family, who now holds the position of 41st head of the family.”
But its miyadaiku, which are divided into eight kumi, or autonomous groups, continue to do the same work as always, using ever more refined versions of the ancient tools and techniques they have used for nearly a millennium and a half. The company continues to receive international attention for preserving ancient traditions while maintaining its high level of craftsmanship.
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