Yoshifuchi - Gien

A Hosso sect monk in the Nara period. A native of Takaichi County, Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture). His common surname was Ichiki (or Ato), a descendant of the King of Baekje. It is said that when his parents prayed to Kannon Bodhisattva for a child, the child was placed on top of a brushwood fence. He became a monk and studied under the third master of the Hosso sect, Chiho (date of birth and death unknown), and was appointed as a monk in 703 (Taiho 3), becoming the highest authority in the Buddhist world. He was especially known for being the central figure of the Kofuku-ji Hosso sect, Gyoki, who was active in social work, Genbo, who became the fourth master of the Hosso sect, Roben, who founded the Kegon sect, and many other disciples, including Senkyo (date of birth and death unknown) and Ryuson (706-760), and some scholars even consider him to be the de facto founder of Japanese Hosso sect. He was the founder of Gokaryu-ji temples, including Ryugai-ji (Oka-dera), Ryumon-ji, Ryufuku-ji, Ryusen-ji, and Ryuzo-ji, and served in the inner dojo of the Imperial Court during the reigns of Emperors Gensho and Shomu, and was given the surname Okanomuraji in recognition of his achievements.

[Tamura Kosuke June 20, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良時代、法相(ほっそう)宗の僧。大和(やまと)国（奈良県）高市(たかいち)郡の人。俗姓は百済(くだら)王の子孫市往(いちき)氏（または阿刀(あと)氏）。両親が観音菩薩(かんのんぼさつ)に子授けを祈ったところ、柴垣(しばがき)の上に置かれていたという。出家して法相宗の第三伝智鳳(ちほう)（生没年不詳）に教えを受け、703年（大宝3）僧正に任ぜられ、仏教界の最高責任者となった。とくに興福寺系法相宗の中心をなし、社会事業に活躍した行基(ぎょうき)、法相宗第四伝となった玄昉(げんぼう)、華厳(けごん)宗を開いた良弁(ろうべん)、このほか宣教(せんきょう)（生没年不詳）、隆尊(りゅうそん)（706―760）など多くの弟子をもち、日本法相宗の実質上の開祖とさえ評価する学者もいる。竜蓋寺(りゅうがいじ)（岡寺）、竜聞(りゅうもん)寺、竜福寺、竜泉寺、竜象寺など五箇竜寺の開山で、元正(げんしょう)・聖武(しょうむ)天皇の代に宮中の内道場に仕え、その功により市往氏に岡連(おかのむらじ)の姓を賜った。

［田村晃祐　2017年6月20日］

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