Gyoki - Gyoki

Japanese: 行基 - ぎょうき

Year of death: Tempyo Shoho 1.2.2 (749.2.23)
Year of birth: Tenchi 7 (668)
A monk from the Nara period. His deeds can be seen in Daiso Josharibinki, Shoku Nihongi, Nihon Ryoiki, Gyoki Nenpu, and other sources. He was born in Hachida-go, Otori-gun, Kawachi Province (later part of Izumi Province). His father was Takashi Saichi and his mother was Hachida Kojihime. Both were from clans of naturalized Chinese. He became a monk at the age of 15 in Tenmu 11 (682). He studied sutras such as the Yogachara-bhūri-Ō and the Seiyō-yōshi-ron, and is said to have quickly come to understand them. Until the beginning of the 8th century, he devoted himself to asceticism in the mountains. His early temples, such as Ikuma Senbo and Ryōfuku-in, followed in that tradition. He soon traveled widely, missionary work, and gained many followers. However, in Yoro 1 (717), he was specifically denounced by the government. Activities such as lighting fire on fingers and copying sutras with skin peeled off were considered heretical magic, and it is believed that proselytizing on the streets was also criticized. However, no specific punishments such as secularization or exile were imposed. Gyoki responded flexibly to this oppression by changing his magic to more moderate ones, and he shifted from his street activities to activities centered on the Imperial Court. In the seventh year of the same year, when the Sansei Isshinho (a law encouraging the cultivation of rice fields and guaranteeing the private property rights of those who cultivated them for a certain period of time) was issued, he responded by working on irrigation projects such as building ponds, and constructed many ports, bridges, and traveller's resting places. These activities were carried out widely in conjunction with local powerful families of the district governor class, and the government also accepted and promoted him. It is said that the number of believers who joined his group numbered 1,000. He was also skilled in magic, as described in the Nihon Ryōiki, and is said to have often demonstrated miraculous powers, leading people to worship him as they passed by. He was revered by the people as a bodhisattva. In 731, the elderly among his followers were granted official rank. In 732, he conducted fundraising activities for the construction of the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple, and in 733, he was appointed Daisojō (chief priest) and was granted official rank to 400 people. He died in 749, the first year of Tenpyō Shohō. At the time, he was Daisojō and a monk at Yakushiji Temple. There were over 40 training halls in the Kinai region, and they are known as Gyoki's 49 temples. He is said to have also built temples on various roads outside the Kinai region, but the details are unknown. He wrote no books. After his death, faith in Gyoki arose. <References> Kitayama Shigeo, "The Century of Manyo," Inoue Kaoru, "Gyoki," Futaba Norika, "Research on the History of Ancient Buddhist Thought," Tamura Enjo, "History of Japanese Buddhism 2," Hiraoka Teikai and Nakai Masataka, "Collection of Essays on Famous Japanese Monks/Gyoki and Ganjin," Yoshida Yasuo, "Gyoki and the Ritsuryo State"

(Kazuhiko Yoshida)

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

Japanese:

没年：天平勝宝1.2.2(749.2.23)
生年：天智7(668)
奈良時代の僧。その事跡は,『大僧上舎利瓶記』『続日本紀』『日本霊異記』『行基年譜』などから知ることができる。河内国(大阪府)大鳥郡蜂田郷(のち和泉国に属す)の生まれ。父は高志才智,母は蜂田古爾比売。ともに中国系帰化人の氏族である。天武11(682)年,15歳で出家。『瑜伽師地論』『成唯識論』などの経典を学び,たちまち理解したという。8世紀初めごろまでは山林修行に力を注いだ。生馬仙房,隆福院など彼の初期の院はその伝統をひくものである。やがて広く各地を周遊し,布教活動を行って多くの信者を得た。しかし,養老1(717)年,政府から名指しで糺弾された。指に火を灯し,皮膚を剥いで写経するといった活動が異端的呪術とみなされ,また路上での布教活動がとがめられたと考えられる。しかし,このとき還俗とか流刑といった具体的な刑罰は科されなかった。行基はこの弾圧に,呪術を穏当なものに変えるなどによって柔軟に応じ,それまでの路上活動から院を中心とする活動に転換していった。同7年,三世一身法(田の開墾を奨励し,開墾者の私財権を一定期間保障した法)が発布されると,これに対応して池造りなど灌漑事業に取り組み,また船息(港),橋,布施屋(旅人の休息所)を多数造立した。こうした活動は郡司クラスの地方豪族と結びついて広範に展開され,政府も容認し登用するところであった。彼の集団に加わる信徒は1000人を数えたという。『日本霊異記』に描かれたような呪術も得意としたらしく,しばしば「霊異神験」を示したといい,行き通う人々は彼を礼拝したという。人々から「菩薩」と仰がれた。天平3(731)年には従う者のうち老齢者に官度が認められた。同15年には東大寺大仏造立のため勧進活動を行い,同17年には大僧正に任じられ,400人の官度が与えられた。天平勝宝1(749)年死去。時に大僧正,薬師寺僧。その道場は畿内に四十余所,行基四十九院と呼ばれている。畿外の諸道にも建立したらしいが詳細は不明。著作はない。死後,行基信仰が発生した。<参考文献>北山茂夫『万葉の世紀』,井上薫『行基』,二葉憲香『古代仏教思想史研究』,田村円澄『日本仏教史2』,平岡定海・中井真孝『日本名僧論集/行基・鑑真』,吉田靖雄『行基と律令国家』

(吉田一彦)

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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