Gyoson

A Tendai Buddhist monk from the late Heian period. Commonly known as Byodo-in Daisojo. Son of councillor Minamoto no Motohira (1026-1064). Entered the priesthood at Onjo-ji Temple at the age of 12, and travelled around the country from the age of 17, training at Shugendo sacred sites such as Mt. Omine and Mt. Katsuragi. He excelled in prayer, and is said to have prayed for the emperor's illness and received a tiding of good fortune. Later, he entered Byodo-in Temple in Mitsui, and in 1116 (Eikyu 4) became the abbot of Onjo-ji Temple, where he started the Hyakuza Ninno-ko, a lecture that he held every year. In 1123 (Hoan 4), he was appointed the 44th Tendai abbot, but resigned after six days. He excelled in waka poetry, and many of his poems are included in imperial anthologies such as "Kinyo," "Shika," "Senzai," and "Shin Kokin." He was also good at painting, and there is a painting that he copied in a dream of a portrait of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro dressed in clothing and composing poetry, which is said to be the first portrait of Hitomaro.

[Yoshimichi Shioiri June 20, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安末期の天台宗の僧。通称を平等院(びょうどういん)大僧正という。参議源基平(みなもとのもとひら)（1026―1064）の子。12歳のとき園城寺(おんじょうじ)で出家し、17歳から諸国を遊歴、大峰(おおみね)山、葛城(かつらぎ)山などの修験(しゅげん)霊場で修行した。祈祷(きとう)に優れ天皇の病を祈り験(しるし)があったという。のち三井平等院に入り、1116年（永久4）園城寺長吏となって百座仁王講(にんのうこう)を始め、毎年修するのを例とした。1123年（保安4）44世天台座主(ざす)に任ぜられたが、6日で辞した。和歌に秀で、『金葉』『詞花』『千載(せんざい)』『新古今』などの勅撰(ちょくせん)集に多くの歌が収められている。また画もよくし、衣冠を着けて歌を詠んでいる柿本人麻呂(かきのもとのひとまろ)像を夢にみて写したという画があり、人麻呂像の最初のものとされる。

［塩入良道　2017年6月20日］

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