Keika

A high priest of Esoteric Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty in China. A native of Shaanxi Province. He first studied Esoteric Buddhism under Donzhen of the Qinglong Temple in Chang'an, and then under Fuku Sanzo of the Daxingshan Temple, mastering its mysteries. He became the guardian monk of the Inner Dojo after receiving the devotion of Daizong (reigned 762-779), and lived in the East Tower of the Qinglong Temple to spread Esoteric Buddhism. He was later revered by Tokuso and Junzong (reigned 805), and was revered as the national teacher of the three courts. He also worked to educate the masses, and many talented disciples, including Gimyō, Gien, Benkō, Enichi, Giso, and Ijō, emerged from his school. In 805, the Japanese Kukai received the initiation of the Vajrayana and Taizokai abbotship from Huiguo at Seiryu-ji Temple and became his disciple, but in December of the same year, Huiguo passed away at the age of 60. Gisao succeeded his teacher as head of Seiryu-ji Temple, and Kukai wrote a monument in memory of Huiguo and returned to Japan to found the Shingon sect. In Japanese Shingon Buddhism, Huiguo is revered as the seventh of the eight patriarchs of Shingon abbotship. His works include "The Eighteen Seals of the Pledge" and "The Ritual of the Abbot."

[Toshiaki Katsumata, February 16, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、唐代の密教の高僧。陝西(せんせい)省の人。初め長安の青龍寺の曇貞(どんてい)に、ついで大興善寺の不空三蔵(ふくうさんぞう)に師事して密教を学び、その秘奥(ひおう)を究めた。代宗（在位762～779）の帰依(きえ)を受けて内道場の護持僧となり、また青龍寺の東塔院に住して密教を広め、ついで徳宗(とくそう)、順宗(じゅんそう)（在位805）の崇敬を受け、三朝の国師と仰がれた。また民衆教化にも努め、門下には義明(ぎみょう)、義円(ぎえん)、弁弘(べんこう)、慧日(えにち)、義操(ぎそう)、惟上(いじょう)ら多くの人材を輩出した。805年には日本の空海が青龍寺において恵果から金剛界(こんごうかい)、胎蔵界(たいぞうかい)の灌頂(かんじょう)を受け、付法（師が法を伝授すること）の弟子となったが、この年の12月恵果は60歳で寂した。義操が師の後を継いで青龍寺主となり、空海は恵果追悼の碑文を書き、帰国して真言宗を開いた。日本の真言宗では、恵果を真言付法の八祖のなかの第七祖と仰ぐ。著作に『十八契印(げいいん)』『灌頂儀軌(ぎき)』などがある。

［勝又俊教　2017年2月16日］

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