Shuho Myouchou - Shuho Myouchou

A Rinzai sect monk from the late Kamakura period to the Northern and Southern Courts period. He was from Harima (Hyogo Prefecture). He became a monk at the age of 11 and studied Tendai Buddhism under Kaishin of Shoshazan. He later turned to Zen and became a disciple of Koho Kennichi at Manju-ji Temple in Kamakura. In 1305 (Kagen 3), he returned from Song China and studied under Nanpo Jomyo (Daiō Kokushi), who was a proponent of sharp and rigorous Zen, and inherited his teachings. After Nanpo's death in 1308 (Enkei 1), he lived at Ungo-ji Temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto. In 1324 (Shochū 1), Akamatsu Norimura built Daitoku-ji Temple in Murasakino, Kyoto, and appointed Shuho as its founder. Emperor Hanazono asked him about the essentials of Zen and bestowed upon him the title of Kozen Daito Kokushi. During the Shochu era (1324-1326), he served as an attendant to Hohin Tsuo Kyoen (1258-1325) at the Seiryoden Hall, where he defeated the Nanto and Hokurei masters such as Gen'ei. Emperor Godaigo also held Daitokuji in high esteem, and during the Kenmu Restoration, Daitokuji was awarded the imperial decree of "Honcho Muhai Zenen" (the highest zen garden in Japan), and was ranked first among the Five Mountains along with Nanzenji. In 1341 (Kokoku 2, Ryakuo 4), Daitokuji was removed from the Five Mountains, but Shuho's lineage, characterized by rigorous training, continued to stand in opposition to the Five Mountains, and his successor Kanzan Egen founded Myoshinji, and the schools of O (Daio Kokushi), To (Daito Kokushi), and Seki (Kanzan) are the source of the current Rinzai sect of Buddhism. He passed away on December 22, 1337 (Engen 2, Kenmu 4) at the age of 56. His disciples included Kanzan, Tettou Gikou, Kaigan Ryogi (date of birth and death unknown), and Kokei Dojin (?-1377). In 1686 (the third year of the Jōkyō era), he was posthumously named Daijiun Kōshin Kokushi. He is known for writings such as "Sayōroku," "Hōgo," "Hekiganshū Agyo," and "Daito Hyakutwensoku."

[Rikizan Ishikawa July 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉末・南北朝期の臨済(りんざい)宗の僧。播磨(はりま)（兵庫県）の人。11歳で出家、書写山の戒信(かいしん)に天台を学ぶ。その後、禅に転じ鎌倉・万寿(まんじゅ)寺の高峰顕日(こうほうけんにち)に参ずる。1305年（嘉元3）宋(そう)より帰国し機鋒峻烈(きほうしゅんれつ)な禅を鼓吹していた南浦紹明(なんぽじょうみょう)（大応国師）に師事して法を嗣(つ)ぐ。1308年（延慶1）南浦の遷化後は京都東山の雲居(うんご)寺に住した。1324年（正中1）赤松則村(あかまつのりむら)は京都・紫野に大徳寺を造営し宗峰を開山とした。花園(はなぞの)上皇は彼に禅要を問い、興禅大燈(だいとう)国師を賜号。正中(しょうちゅう)年間（1324～1326）の宗論に際しては、法兄(ほうひん)通翁鏡円(つうおうきょうえん)（1258―1325）の侍者として清涼殿に参内し、玄恵(げんえ)らの南都北嶺(ほくれい)の諸師を論破した。また後醍醐(ごだいご)天皇も尊信して、建武(けんむ)の新政の際に大徳寺は「本朝無比禅苑(ぜんえん)」の宸翰(しんかん)を賜り、南禅寺と並び五山第一に推された。1341年（興国2・暦応4）大徳寺は五山から除かれたが、峻烈な修行を特色とする宗峰の系統は、五山派に相対する立場を貫き、さらに法嗣(はっす)の関山慧玄(かんざんえげん)が妙心寺を開き、応（大応国師）・燈（大燈国師）・関（関山）の一流は現在の臨済宗諸派の法系上の源流となっている。延元2年・建武4年12月22日（1337年）56歳で示寂。関山、徹翁義亨(てっとうぎこう)、海岸了義(かいがんりょうぎ)（生没年不詳）、虎渓道壬(こけいどうじん)（？―1377）らの弟子がいる。1686年（貞享3）大慈雲匡真(だいじうんきょうしん)国師と加諡(かし)された。『語録』『法語』『碧巌集下語(へきがんしゅうあぎょ)』『大燈百二十則』などの著書がある。

［石川力山　2017年7月19日］

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