Owa Sorin

Japanese: 尾和宗臨 - おわ・そうりん

Year of death: Bunki 1 (1501)
Year of birth: unknown. A wealthy merchant in Sakai during the late Muromachi period. While making huge profits from overseas trade, he studied Zen under Ikkyu Sojun of Daitokuji Temple. He wanted to build a temple for Ikkyu, but Ikkyu firmly refused. However, after repeated requests, Ikkyu recommended rebuilding Daitokuji Temple, which had been destroyed by fire during the Onin War. With the help of volunteers, Sorin rebuilt the main temple's Buddha hall, abbot's chamber, and kitchen, as well as its subtemples, Daiyoan, Nyoian, and Tokuzenji, during the Bunmei era (1469-87). When rebuilding the abbot's chamber, it is said that the mast of a ship that was used for trade with Western countries was used as the master carpenter for the kitchen, and the ship's planks were used for the wainscoting. Sorin repeatedly wished to build a temple for Ikkyu, and Ikkyu gave permission for it to be built after his death. After Ikkyu's death in 1421, Shinjuan was founded within Daitokuji Temple, and was completed in 1491. He was buried at Shinjuan after his death as a contributor to the restoration of Daitokuji Temple. In his will, he donated his assets for the restoration of the temple, and his descendants followed suit.

(Yutaka Yoshida)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：文亀1(1501)
生年：生年不詳
室町後期の堺の豪商。海外貿易で巨利を得るかたわら,大徳寺の一休宗純に参禅する。一休のために寺を建てることを希望し一休からは固辞されるが,数度にわたる要望に一休は,応仁の乱の兵火に焼亡したままの大徳寺の再建を勧める。宗臨は有志の協力も得て,文明年中(1469～87)に本寺の仏殿,方丈,大厨をはじめ,その塔頭の大用庵,如意庵や徳禅寺などを再建した。方丈の再建では,西域諸国の貿易に従事した持ち船の帆柱を厨庫の棟梁にあて,船板は腰板に使用したと伝えられる。宗臨は重ねて一休の寺を建てることを願ったため,一休もその死後に建立することを許した。文明13年の一休没後,大徳寺内に真珠庵を創建し延徳3(1491)年に竣功した。大徳寺再興の功労者として,没後真珠庵に葬られる。遺言によって,所有の資産を寄贈して修復の用に当て,子孫もそれに倣ったという。<参考文献>『堺市史』

(吉田豊)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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