Genbo - Genbo

A Hosso sect monk in the Nara period. His secular surname was Ato. He became a monk and a disciple of Gien. In 717 (Yoro 1), he went to China and studied under the Hosso sect priest Chishu. He was eventually summoned by Emperor Xuanzong, who made him a third-rank priest and bestowed him a purple robe. He returned to Japan in 735 (Tenpyo 7), and is considered the fourth person to introduce Hosso Buddhism to Japan (the fourth transmission). He lived at Kofuku-ji Temple, and his lineage of Hosso teachings is known as the Kofuku-ji tradition (Kita-dera tradition). It is believed that he brought back over 5,000 volumes of sutras and treatises listed in Kaigenroku when he returned to Japan, and the number of Japanese copied sutras increased thereafter. In 737, he was appointed as a Sojo (priest) and was bestowed with a purple robe. He was credited with caring for the Crown Princess Fujiwara no Miyako, and served in the Naidojo (inner training hall) of the Imperial Court. This led him to get involved in politics, and together with Kibi no Makibi, he wielded power on behalf of the Fujiwara clan, and was hated by the people. Dazai no Shoni Fujiwara no Hirotsugu demanded the removal of Genbo and Kibi no Makibi, and in 740 started a rebellion in Kyushu, where he was defeated and killed. Genbo was also demoted to Kanzeonji Temple in Tsukushi (Fukuoka Prefecture) in 745, and died there the following year in 746. His disciples included Jikin (691-777) and Zenju (723-797).

[Tamura Kosuke July 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良時代の法相(ほっそう)宗の僧。俗姓阿刀(あと)氏。出家して義淵(ぎえん)の弟子となった。717年（養老1）入唐(にっとう)して法相宗の智周(ちしゅう)について学んだ。やがて玄宗(げんそう)皇帝に召見され、三品(さんぼん)の位に准じられ紫衣(しえ)を賜った。735年（天平7）帰国、日本へ法相宗を伝えた4番目の人（第四伝）とされる。興福寺に住し、その系統の法相教学は、興福寺伝（北寺伝）とよばれている。帰国に際し、『開元録(かいげんろく)』に記載されている5000余巻の経論を請来(しょうらい)したものと思われ、以後、日本の写経の書目が増大した。737年僧正(そうじょう)に任ぜられ、紫袈裟(むらさきげさ)を賜った。皇太夫人藤原宮子(ふじわらのみやこ)の看病をして功あり、宮中の内道場(ないどうじょう)に仕える。それを契機に政治に参与し、吉備真備(きびのまきび)とともに藤原氏にかわって権力を振るい、人々に憎まれた。大宰少弐(だざいのしょうに)藤原広嗣(ひろつぐ)は玄昉と吉備真備を除くよう要求して740年九州で乱を起こし敗死したが、玄昉も745年筑紫(つくし)（福岡県）観世音寺(かんぜおんじ)に左遷され、翌746年同地で没した。弟子に慈訓(じきん)（691―777）、善珠(ぜんじゅ)（723―797）らがいる。

［田村晃祐　2017年7月19日］

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