Proof of emptiness

Japanese: 証空 - しょうくう

Year of death: 1st November 26th (1247.12.24)
Year of birth: 1177.11.30 (Jisho 1.11.9)
Founder of the Seizan school of the Jodo sect. A senior disciple of Honen. Son of Kaga Gonshu Minamoto no Chikasue, and adopted by Minister of the Interior Kuga Michichika. Became a disciple of Honen at the age of 14. At the age of 22, he worked with Anrakubo Junsai and Shinkanbo Kansai on the creation of the "Seisakushu" and served as a kanbun (a commentator) to identify the key passages in the commentary. He lectured on the "Seisakushu" to Kujo Kanezane on behalf of Honen, and sometimes wrote for Honen. When Honen wrote the "Shichikajo Kishomon" in 1204 (Genkyu 1), he was the fourth to sign, so it is believed that he held a high position among his many disciples. In Honen's will, "Mokugo Kishomon," his name is listed as one of the seven disciples who entered the room. He served Honen for a long time and transmitted the Enton Bodhisattva precepts to him. He was influenced by Honen's thoughts in his later years, and is said to have repeatedly read Zendo's "Kan'muryojukyo Commentary." It is said that he wrote the commentary on the walls and ceilings of all four sides of the temple and looked at it constantly. He was implicated in the Ken'ei and Karoku persecutions and was nearly exiled, but escaped exile thanks to Jien's protection. After Honen's death, he received Kitao Ojo-in Temple at Nishiyama Zenpo-ji Temple in Yamashiro (Kyoto Prefecture) from Jien and used it as a training center for nembutsu, performing rituals such as constant nembutsu and six-hour praising. He also used Ojo-in Temple as his base of operations and traveled throughout the Kinai region to give lectures on Zendo's writings, including the Commentary on the Contemplation of the Sutra of Infinite Life. He studied Tendai Buddhism under Hino Ganren and esoteric Buddhism under Masaharu. In 1229, he saw the Contemplation Mandala at Taima-dera Temple in Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture) and was impressed by how the idea of the Commentary on the Contemplation of the Sutra of Infinite Life was symbolically expressed, and he made efforts to promote its circulation. He had a strong relationship with the Imperial Court, and in 1243 he bestowed the Entonkai precepts on Emperor Gosaga, and founded Kankishin-in Temple by imperial order. He frequently visited the Imperial Court and lectured on the Seizan teachings. As Honen's other disciples were banished from Kyoto due to persecution, the Seizan school came to have the most influence in the capital. His main disciples included Joon, Risshin, and Shoei. <Works> "Kanmon Yogisho", "Kankyo Sho Tahitsusho", "Kankyo Hiketsushu", "Senpaku Mitsuketsu", and "Taima Mandala". <References> "Genku and His Disciples" by Kikuchi Yujiro.

(Hayashi Jun)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：宝治1.11.26(1247.12.24)
生年：治承1.11.9(1177.11.30)
浄土宗の西山派の派祖。法然の高弟。加賀権守源親季の子で,内大臣久我通親の養子。14歳で法然門下に入る。22歳のときに安楽房遵西,真観房感西と共に『選択集』の製作に携わり,経釈の要文を検出する勘文の役を勤めた。法然の代わりに九条兼実に『選択集』を講じたり,法然の代筆を行うこともあった。元久1(1204)年に法然が『七箇条起請文』を記した際は,4番目に署名していることからして,多くの門弟のなかでも高い地位を占めていたと考えられる。法然の遺言状である『没後起請文』では,7人の入室弟子のひとりとして名前が挙がっている。長く法然の側に仕えて,円頓菩薩戒を相伝した。法然の晩年の思想に影響を受け,善導の『観無量寿経疏』を繰り返し読んだといわれる。その釈文を四方の壁や天井に書きつけ,常に眺めていたという逸話が伝えられる。建永の法難,嘉禄の法難時に連座し流罪されかかるが,慈円の庇護で流罪を逃れた。法然没後,慈円から山城(京都府)西山善峯寺北尾往生院を譲り受けて,そこを念仏の道場とし,不断念仏,六時礼讃などの行法を行った。また往生院を本拠として,『観無量寿経疏』をはじめ善導の著述の講説を行うために畿内一円の各地に出向いた。日野願蓮につき天台を学び,政春につき密教を学んだ。寛喜1(1229)年に大和国(奈良県)当麻寺で観経曼陀羅を見て,『観無量寿経疏』の趣旨が象徴的に表現されていることに感動し,以後その流通に努める。宮中との関係が深く,寛元1(1243)年に後嵯峨天皇に円頓戒を授け,勅により歓喜心院を創建した。たびたび宮中に参内し,西山義を講じた。法然の他の門弟が京都から法難によって追放されていくと,西山派が京中では最大の勢力を誇るようになった。主な門弟に浄音,立信,証慧らがいる。<著作>『観門要義鈔』『観経疏他筆鈔』『観経秘決集』『選択密要決』『当麻曼陀羅』<参考文献>菊地勇次郎『源空とその門下』

(林淳)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: Jōgūji Temple

>>: Sexual emptiness