Sanbo Ekotoba - Sanbo Ekotoba

A collection of tales from the mid-Heian period. Three volumes. Compiled by Minamoto no Tamenori. It was presented to Emperor Reizei's daughter, Princess Sonshi, in 984 (Eikan 2). Originally accompanied by illustrations, only the words remain. The preface praises the importance of finding a connection with Buddhism rather than the fleeting pleasures of stories and music, and the first, middle and third volumes are dedicated to the Buddha, the Dharma and monks, respectively. The opening chapters explain how these things should be respected, list tales as examples and end with a short hymn in classical Chinese. The whole work is tightly constructed, making it a concrete and easy-to-understand introduction to Buddhism. The first volume contains stories about Shakyamuni's achievements in the Six Paramitas and other good deeds he performed in his previous life, the second volume contains stories about the spread of Buddhism in Japan and its miraculous powers, and the third volume contains stories that tell of the origins and nature of the various Buddhist ceremonies performed by monks.

[Masato Mori]

"Yamada Takao, 'Abbreviated Notes on the Three Treasures Picture Texts' (1951, Hobunkan)" ▽ "Koizumi Hiroshi and Takahashi Nobuyuki, 'Comparison of Various Editions of the Three Treasures Picture Collection' (1980, Kasama Shoin)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安中期の説話集。3巻。源為憲(ためのり)編。984年（永観2）冷泉(れいぜい)天皇皇女、尊子内親王に献上された。もともと絵を伴っていたが、詞章のみが伝わっている。物語や音楽などのはかない慰みより、仏法に縁を結ぶことをたたえる序をもち、上、中、下巻にそれぞれ仏、法、僧をあて、巻頭にそれらの尊ぶべきことを説き、例証としての説話を列挙し、漢文の短い讃(さん)を巻尾に置く。全体が緊密に構成され、具体的で平易な仏教入門書である。上巻には、釈迦(しゃか)が前生(ぜんしょう)に六波羅蜜(ろくはらみつ)その他の善行を行った説話、中巻には、日本における仏法流布と仏法霊験の説話、下巻には、僧の勤める各種の法会の由来とそのようすを語る説話を配する。

［森　正人］

『山田孝雄著『三宝絵詞略注』（1951・宝文館）』▽『小泉弘・高橋伸幸著『諸本対照三宝絵集成』（1980・笠間書院）』

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