Completed - Shinzei

Japanese: 真済 - しんぜい

Year of death: 25th February 860 (21st March 860)
Year of birth: Enryaku 19 (800)
A Shingon Buddhist monk in the early Heian period, he was one of the ten greatest disciples of Kukai. Born in Kyoto, he was the son of Ki no Misono. He initially studied Confucianism, but entered Kukai's room and studied esoteric Buddhism alongside him. In 824, at the young age of 25, he received both the initiation and became a Denpo Ajari. He was then personally taught secret rituals by Kukai at Takao-san Temple (Jingo-ji Temple), and he compiled these himself, which is called the Takao-Kuketsu. In 834, he was entrusted with the Takao-san Temple when Kukai retired to Mount Koya, and in 836, he was ordered by Kukai to manage the Shingon-in Temple at the Imperial Court. In 837, he attempted to travel to China with Shinzen on a Tang Dynasty ship, but was caught in a typhoon on the way and was unable to complete the journey. He returned to Kyoto and lived in Takao. In 828, he was appointed as the Tenbo-Ju Zenji, in 829, he was appointed as a provisional risshi and the second head priest of Toji Temple, and in 840, he was appointed as a risshi and the first head priest of Toji Temple. He was highly trusted by both Emperors Ninmyo and Montoku, and in 851 he was appointed Shosozu, and in 856 he was appointed Sojo, but he declined as it went beyond the rank of teacher, and so the title of Daisozu was bequeathed to Kukai. After the death of Emperor Montoku he retired to Takao. He is known to the world as Takao Sojo and Ki Sojo. He excelled in poetry and prose, and compiled the writings of Kukai, who accompanied him for 20 years, into 10 volumes of the Hensho Hatsusho Reishu. <References> Mangenshiban's Honcho Kosoden, Sandai Jitsuroku, Goho's Tohoki, Tokan Shiren's Genko Shakusho, and Kobo Daishi Deshifu.

(Shinichi Tsuda)

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

Japanese:

没年：貞観2.2.25(860.3.21)
生年：延暦19(800)
平安前期の真言宗の僧,空海十大弟子のひとり。京都の出身,紀御園の子。初め儒学を学んだが空海の室に入り,随身して密教を学び,天長1(824)年,25歳の若さで両部の灌頂を受けて伝法阿闍梨となる。その後も高雄山寺(神護寺)で空海より親しく諸秘密儀軌を伝授されたが,それらを自ら編集したものを『高雄口訣』という。天長9年,空海が高野山に隠棲するに当たって高雄山寺を付嘱され,また承和1(834)年空海の命によって宮中真言院を管理する。同3年,真然と共に遣唐船に乗って入唐しようとするが途中台風に遭って果たせず,帰京して高雄に住する。同7年内供奉十禅師,同10年権律師,東寺二長者,同14年律師,東寺一長者。仁明,文徳両天皇の信頼厚く,仁寿1(851)年少僧都,同3年権大僧都に叙せられ,斉衡3(856)年僧正に補せられたが,これは師位を超えるので辞退,ために空海に大僧正が遺贈された。文徳天皇の没とともに高雄に隠棲。世に高雄僧正,紀僧正と称される。詩文に秀で,20年にわたって随身した空海の遺文を編集して『遍照発揮性霊集』10巻とした。<参考文献>卍元師蛮『本朝高僧伝』,『三代実録』,杲宝『東宝記』,虎関師錬『元亨釈書』,『弘法大師弟子譜』

(津田眞一)

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

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