Born in 1876 in Nishi Honganji, Kyoto, Otani Kozui graduated from Gakushuin and studied in Europe, and served as the head priest of Nishi Honganji from 1907 to 1914. His Dharma name was Kyoyo. His Buddhist name was Kyonyo. Kozui, who was devoted to Oriental studies, was inspired by European countries’ efforts to explore Central Asia, and organized three Otani expeditions in 1902, 1908, and 1910 to investigate the archaeology and art in the East Turkestan region. The details of their arduous expeditions are described in the report, “New Western Regions.” It is regrettable that the current status of many of the materials they painstakingly collected and excavated are unknown because they were deposited at the Lushun Museum and the Chosun Governor-General’s Museum at the time. He died in 1948 at the age of 72.
