Chinkai - Chinkai

A scholar of Sanron and painter-monk in the late Heian period. Son of the painter Kasuga No Motomitsu. He became a disciple of Kakuju at Tonan-in Temple in Todai-ji Temple, and later received esoteric Buddhism from Jokai at Sanbo-in Temple in Daigo-ji Temple and Kanshin at Kanshuji Temple. He served as a lecturer at the San-ne (three meetings) at Todai-ji Temple, and became a lecturer. He wrote many books related to Sanron, esoteric Buddhism, and the Pure Land, including the "Ketsujo Ojoshu (Collection of Decisive Rebirth)." Due to his origins, he excelled in painting, and left many white-drawn images at Daigo-ji Temple and To-ji Temple. Particularly famous are the white-painted "Two-bodied Kangiten" (Sōshin Kangiten) of To-ji Temple, which has a note saying that he is "the greatest painter in the world," and the southern scroll of the white-painted "Five Deities of the Nio Sutra" (Ninnokyo Gohoshosonzu) (a nationally designated Important Cultural Property).

[Tamura Takateru]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安後期の三論の学匠、画僧。絵師春日基光(かすがのもとみつ)の子。東大寺東南院覚樹(かくじゅ)の弟子となり、のち醍醐寺(だいごじ)三宝院(さんぼういん)定海(じょうかい)や勧修寺(かじゅうじ)寛信(かんしん)から密教を受法した。東大寺では三会(さんね)の講師(こうじ)を務め、已講(いこう)となった。『決定往生集(けつじょうおうじょうしゅう)』始め三論・密教・浄土関連の著述も多い。その出自から画技に秀(すぐ)れ、醍醐寺や東寺に白描図像を多く残す。とくに東寺の「天下第一絵師」と傍書のある白描「双身歓喜天(そうしんかんぎてん)」、白描「仁王経五方諸尊図(にんのうきょうごほうしょそんず)」の南方幅（国指定重要文化財）は有名である。

［田村隆照］

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