Zenzai Doji

A bodhisattva who seeks the path and is the central figure in the "Entering the Realm of Dharma" chapter of the "Avatamsaka Sutra." It is a translation of the Sanskrit Sudhana-śrehi-dāraka. He was the son of Fukujo Choja, but he was inspired and asked Manjusri to "open my eyes, which are obsessed with attachment, clouded by doubt, suffering, and sunk in the ocean of earthly desires." He received Manjusri's teachings and visited 55 places and 53 wise men (people who have mastered their own paths and are suitable to encourage the path to enlightenment) to receive his teachings. Among the 53 were a wealthy man, a doctor, a Brahmin, a heretic (non-Buddhist), and 20 women. They received teachings humbly without preconceptions, and in the end went to see the three bodhisattvas, Maitreya, Manjusri, and Fugen, and attained true wisdom. It is said that the "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" was inspired by this story. Due to its highly literary content, it has become the subject of verses, illustrations, and literature, and the "Emaki of the Fifty-Five Places of the Kegon Dynasty" (owned by Todaiji Temple, National Treasure), the statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva Riding a Lion by Koen (private collection), and the statue of Zenzai Doji at Abe Monjuin Temple (made by Kaikei, National Treasure) are particularly well-known.

[Yoshio Ishigami June 17, 2015]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

『華厳経(けごんきょう)』「入法界品(にゅうほっかいぼん)」の中心人物である求道(ぐどう)の菩薩(ぼさつ)。サンスクリット語のスダナ・シュレーシュティ・ダーラカSudhana-śrehi-dārakaの訳。福城長者の子であったが、発心(ほっしん)して、「愛着に執(とら)われ、疑いで智慧(ちえ)の目が曇り、苦しみ、煩悩(ぼんのう)の海に沈殿している私の目を覚ましてほしい」と文殊(もんじゅ)菩薩に願い、文殊の教えを受け、55か所・53人の善知識(ぜんちしき)（各自の道を究め、解脱(げだつ)への道を勧めるのにふさわしい人物）を歴訪して教えを受ける。53人のなかには、長者、医者、婆羅門(ばらもん)、外道(げどう)（仏教以外の宗教者）、また女性が20人もおり、先入観なしに謙虚に教えを受け、最後に弥勒(みろく)、文殊、普賢(ふげん)の三菩薩のところへ行き、真実の智慧を体得した。この故事より「東海道五十三次」が出たともいわれる。文学性の高い内容から、偈賛(げさん)、図説、文学の素材となり、『華厳五十五所絵巻』（東大寺蔵、国宝）、康円作文殊菩薩騎獅(きし)像（個人蔵）と安倍(あべ)文殊院の善財童子像（快慶作、国宝）はとくに著名。

［石上善應　2015年6月17日］

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