Enni

A Rinzai sect monk in the mid-Kamakura period. His family name was Taira. He was from Suruga (Shizuoka Prefecture). He was originally called Ennibo, and later adopted the given name Enni. He was also known as Benen. He was born on October 15, 2nd year of Kennin. At the age of 5, he studied under Kunozan Gyoben, and thereafter learned Tendai doctrine. At the age of 18, he shaved his head at Onjoji Temple and received the precepts at Todaiji Temple. He later received Zen instruction from two masters, Eichou (1165-1247) of Choraku-ji Temple in Kozuke (Gunma prefecture) and Taiko Gyoyu (1163-1241) of Jufuku-ji Temple in Kamakura, and in 1235 (Kasei 1) he traveled to Song China with Shinshi Eison (1195-1273). After visiting such masters as Chizetsu Dochu (1169-1250), Shoo Myotan (1176-1247), and Ishida Hokun (1171-1245), he succeeded Master Mushun of Manju-ji Temple in Jingshan (Zhejiang Province) and returned to Japan in 1241 (Ninji 2). He preached Zen Buddhism at two temples, Sofuku-ji and Shoten-ji, in Chikuzen (Fukuoka Prefecture), and was soon invited by Fujiwara (Kujo) Doka to travel to Kyoto, where he was the devout disciple of Hojo Tokiyori. He commuted between Kyoto and Kamakura, and also had contact with Rankei Doryu, the founder of Kencho-ji Temple. In 1255 (Kencho 7), he became the founder of Tofuku-ji Temple, which was built by Doka, and later lived in Jufuku-ji Temple and Kennin-ji Temple, before becoming Daikanjin of Todai-ji Temple in 1269 (Bun'ei 6). He was the devout disciple of emperors, retired emperors, and laypeople from both the east and west, and preached Zen Buddhism and Song Buddhism, passing away in October of the 3rd year of the Koan era. He was given the title of Shoichi Kokushi. There are two volumes each of "Seiichi Kokushi Sayings" and "Seiichi Kokushi Hōgo." Many of his disciples were active in the Gozan Zen temples, including Mukan Fumon, Tozan Tanshō (1231-1291), Hakuun Egyō (1223-1298), and Mujū Dogyo.

[Yoshinobu Nakao, May 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉中期の臨済(りんざい)宗の僧。姓は平氏。駿河(するが)（静岡県）の人。初め円爾房と称し、のち円爾を諱(いみな)とした。別に弁円ともいう。建仁(けんにん)2年10月15日に生まれる。5歳で久能山(くのうざん)尭弁(ぎょうべん)に師事し、以後天台教学を学び、18歳で園城寺(おんじょうじ)にて落髪、東大寺で受戒した。その後、上野(こうずけ)（群馬県）長楽寺(ちょうらくじ)の栄朝(えいちょう)（1165―1247）、鎌倉寿福寺の退耕行勇(たいこうぎょうゆう)（1163―1241）の2師から禅旨(ぜんし)を受け、1235年（嘉禎1）神子栄尊(しんしえいそん)（1195―1273）と入宋(にっそう)する。癡絶道冲(ちぜつどうちゅう)（1169―1250）、笑翁妙堪(しょうおうみょうたん)（1176―1247）、石田法薫(せきでんほうくん)（1171―1245）などに歴参後、径山(きんざん)（浙江(せっこう)省）万寿寺の無準師範(ぶじゅんしはん)の法を嗣(つ)いで、1241年（仁治2）帰朝した。筑前(ちくぜん)（福岡県）崇福寺(そうふくじ)、承天寺(しょうてんじ)の2寺で禅宗を唱え、まもなく藤原（九条）道家の招きで上洛(じょうらく)、北条時頼(ほうじょうときより)の帰依(きえ)を受け、京と鎌倉を往復し、建長寺開山の蘭渓道隆(らんけいどうりゅう)とも交流があった。1255年（建長7）道家建立の東福寺開山となり、のち寿福寺、建仁寺に歴住し、1269年（文永6）東大寺大勧進(だいかんじん)となった。天皇、上皇をはじめ、東西の道俗の帰依を受け、禅法と宋学を説き、弘安(こうあん)3年10月示寂。聖一国師(しょういちこくし)の号を賜る。『聖一国師語録』『聖一国師法語』各1巻がある。無関普門(むかんふもん)、東山湛照(とうざんたんしょう)（1231―1291）、白雲慧暁(はくうんえぎょう)（1223―1298）、無住道暁(むじゅうどうぎょう)など、多くの弟子が五山禅林で活躍した。

［中尾良信　2017年5月19日］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例