Holy Cross - Shogei

A monk from the Muromachi period. He was the seventh patriarch of the Jodo sect and laid the foundation for the Jodo religious organization. He was called Yurensha Ryoyo. He was born in Kuji County, Hitachi Province (Ibaraki Prefecture), and became a monk at the age of eight under Ryojitsu (1304-1386) of Jofukuji Temple in Urizura, Hitachi Province. At the age of 25, he was ordained by the fifth patriarch of the Jodo sect, Joe (1296-1370). He then studied under great scholars of various sects, becoming familiar with the doctrines of each sect and working hard to improve the status of the Jodo sect. He also founded the Gojusoden, a ritual for the transmission of the Jodo sect's teachings, and is credited with establishing a system for training priests. He wrote many works to honor the founder of the Pure Land sect, such as the 48 volumes of the Kankyo Shodenzukinyusho and the 10 volumes of the Senchaku Denkoketsugisho Jikitetsu, and also wrote works that described the relationship between the Pure Land sect and Shinto. In his later years, he retired to a hermitage in Koishikawa, Edo. This later became Denzuin.

[Fumimasa Agawa August 21, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

室町時代の僧。浄土宗第七祖にして浄土宗教団の基礎をつくった。酉蓮社了誉(ゆうれんじゃりょうよ)と号する。常陸(ひたち)国（茨城県）久慈(くじ)郡に生まれ、8歳で同国瓜連(うりづら)常福寺の了実(りょうじつ)（1304―1386）に就いて出家、25歳のとき浄土宗五祖定慧(じょうえ)（1296―1370）より宗脈と戒脈を付法された。その後、諸宗の碩学(せきがく)に学んで各宗の教義に精通し、浄土宗の地位の向上に尽力した。また浄土宗の伝法(でんぼう)の儀式として五重相伝(ごじゅうそうでん)を創始し、宗侶(しゅうりょ)養成の制度を確立させた功績は大きい。『観経疏伝通記糅鈔(かんぎょうしょでんずうきにゅうしょう)』48巻、『選択伝弘決疑鈔直牒(せんちゃくでんぐけつぎしょうじきてつ)』10巻など浄土宗祖師を顕彰する著述も多く、また浄土宗と神道(しんとう)との関連を述べた述作もある。晩年は江戸・小石川に草庵(そうあん)を開いて隠栖(いんせい)。これが後の伝通院(でんずういん)である。

［阿川文正　2017年8月21日］

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