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A Shingon Buddhist monk from the early Heian period. Born in Kyoto. He was one of the Eight Great Priests who traveled to China during the Tang Dynasty to study esoteric Buddhism and bring it to Japan. The eight priests were Saicho, Kukai, Jōkyō, Engō, Ennin, Keiun, Enchin, and Sōei. In 848 (Kasō 1), Emperor Ninmyo built Anshō-ji Temple in Yamashina (Kyoto Prefecture) for the Empress Dowager, and appointed his teacher as the chief priest, which is why he is also known as Anshō-ji Sozu. He became a monk at Tōdai-ji Temple and studied Hosso Buddhism, and at Tō-ji Temple (Kyoō-goku-ji Temple) he studied Shingon under Jichie and received the initiation ceremony. In 838 (Jowa 5; according to one theory, Jowa 9), he traveled to China and received instruction in the mysteries of esoteric Buddhism from Gishin of Seiryuji Temple in Chang'an (Xi'an), before returning to Japan in 847. He brought over 200 volumes of esoteric Buddhist scriptures and other texts and presented them to the government. In 864 (Jogan 6), he was appointed Shosozu (young priest) and prevented the abolition of the annual bundosha (a certain number of people permitted to receive ordination each year) system. In 869 (Jogan 11), he was appointed betto (head priest) of Todaiji Temple. He passed away on September 23rd of the same year (according to one theory, Jogan 13).

[Yukei Hirai May 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安前期の真言宗の僧。京都出身。入唐八家(にっとうはっけ)（唐代の中国に渡って密教を学び、日本に伝えた8人の高僧。最澄、空海、常暁、円行、円仁、恵運、円珍、宗叡(しゅうえい)）の一人。848年（嘉祥1）仁明(にんみょう)天皇が皇太后のため山科(やましな)（京都府）に安祥寺(あんしょうじ)を建立、師を住持としたことから、安祥寺僧都(そうず)とも称せられる。東大寺で出家して法相(ほっそう)宗を学び、東寺（教王護国寺）で実慧(じちえ)から真言を学び灌頂(かんじょう)を受けた。838年（承和5。一説に承和9年）入唐し、長安（西安）の青龍寺(せいりゅうじ)義真(ぎしん)から密教の奥義(おうぎ)を受け、847年に帰朝。密教の経軌(きょうき)など200余巻を請来(しょうらい)し上進した。864年（貞観6）少僧都(しょうそうず)に任じ、年分度者（年に許可される一定の得度者）受戒制度の廃止を防止した。869年（貞観11）東大寺別当に補任(ぶにん)。同年（一説に貞観13年）9月23日寂した。

［平井宥慶　2017年5月19日］

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