Commentary on the Sutra of Contemplation of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life

Japanese: 《観無量寿経疏》 - かんむりょうじゅきょうそ

…In particular, in the lowest level (lower grade of descent), it teaches that evil people can attain rebirth in the Pure Land by chanting the name of Amida Buddha, and had a great influence on Pure Land Buddhism in China and Japan. The interpretation of this sutra was determined by the four volumes of the commentary on the Sutra of Contemplation of the Buddha of Infinity (Kan'muryoju Sutra) by Zendo of the Tang dynasty. In Japan, since Honen accepted Zendo's interpretation, it has been considered one of the three sutras of Pure Land Buddhism. …

From the Taima Mandala

...The Taima Mandala is one of the most widely circulated Kannon-kyo variations in Japan, and its original dates back to the Nara period. The source of the design of this painting is thought to be the Commentary on the Kannon-Muryoju Sutra by Zendo, who established the prosperity of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism in the 7th century, and it shows an extremely complete composition. It is not different from other Pure Land variations in that it depicts a detailed scene of the Pure Land in the center of the screen, but it is distinctive in that the meaning of the Kannon-Muryoju Sutra is depicted on the outer edges of the left and right sides and the bottom based on the same commentary. ...

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "Commentary on the Sutra of Contemplation of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…特にその最下(下品下生)において，悪人が称名念仏によって往生することを説き，中国･日本の浄土教に大きな影響を与えた。唐の善導の注釈《観無量寿経疏》4巻によって本経解釈の方向が定められた。日本においては法然が善導の解釈を受け入れて以来，〈浄土三部経〉の一つとして重視される。…

【当麻曼荼羅】より

…当麻曼荼羅は日本で最も広く流布した観経変の一つで，奈良時代にさかのぼる原本を伝える。本図の図相の典拠は，7世紀中国浄土教の隆盛を築いた善導の《観無量寿経疏》とみられ，きわめて完成された構成を示す。画面の中央に極楽浄土の情景を精細に表す点は他の浄土変と異ならないが，その左右と下辺の外縁部分に同疏にもとづいて《観無量寿経》の経意を描いているところに特色がある。…

※「《観無量寿経疏》」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

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