Illustrated biography of Ippen Shonin

Japanese: 一遍上人絵伝 - いっぺんしょうにんえでん

This picture scroll depicts the deeds of Ippen Shonin, the founder of the Jishu sect. It was handed down to Kankikoji Temple in Kyoto and consists of 12 volumes, but the seventh volume has now left the temple and is housed at the Tokyo National Museum. It is a national treasure. The colophon reveals that in 1299 (Shoan 1), Ippen's senior disciple Shokai drafted the words, and Hogen En'i drew the illustrations. Ippen was born in Iyo Province (Ehime Prefecture). He initially practiced the Jodo sect, but later established his own doctrine and founded the Jishu sect. In particular, he created a unique form of faith called dancing nembutsu, and traveled around the country promoting nembutsu among people of all ranks, striving to educate the masses. The picture scroll faithfully describes the actions of the priest and is distinctive in that it incorporates many scenes of famous places and temples from around the country, along with scenes of his missionary work. Overall, the figures are small, with great attention paid to depicting the natural background, and the scenery of the four seasons is beautifully captured, conveying the atmosphere of uta-e and meisho-e. The accurate depiction of the people and architecture shows a strong tendency towards realism in the Kamakura period, while the composition of the landscapes shows the influence of Chinese Song Dynasty landscape painting. The style, which combines the traditions of Yamato-e with the powerful expression of Song painting, is unique, and there is a theory that the existence of the En'i school is suggested by the existence of several similar works. The legend is written on silk dyed in five different colors with four brushes that are thought to be calligraphers of the time.

In addition to the above, there is another picture scroll that depicts the deeds of Ippen, compiled by Soshun, which has survived in many popular editions. This scroll combines the biographies of Ippen and the second patriarch, Taa, and is commonly known as the Yugyo Shonin Emaki.

[Yasushi Murashige]

"Newly Revised Complete Collection of Japanese Picture Scrolls 11: Saint Ippen's Biography" (1975, Kadokawa Shoten) "Japanese Picture Scrolls Daisei Betsukan: Illustrated Biography of Ippen Shonin" (1978, Chuokoron-Shinsha)

[Reference] | Ippen

"Illustrated Biography of Ippen Shonin"
Ippen leaves Iyo Province with three companions. Volume 2 (copy held at the National Diet Library )

"Illustrated Biography of Ippen Shonin"

Nembutsu dance as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"
In 1284 (Kōan 7), Ippen Shonin entered Kyoto and performed a dancing nembutsu. Monks danced on stage to the sound of gongs and drums, while men and women of all ranks looked on. Copy of "Ippen Shonin E-den" (Eden of Ippen Shonin), held at the National Diet Library .

Nembutsu dance as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"

The kitchen as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"
The kitchen of a local samurai's residence in the early Middle Ages. Built inside the house, it had a low-rise smoke vent on the ridge of the roof. Copy of "Ippen Shonin E-den" (Eden of Ippen Shonin), held at the National Diet Library .

The kitchen as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"

Fukuoka City as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"
A market in Fukuoka-sho, Bizen Province, during the Kamakura period. Temporary market huts are built across the road. From the left in the back, there is a cloth hut, a rice hut, and a fish and bird hut. A copy of "Ippen Shonin E-den" (Eden of Ippen Shonin), owned by the National Diet Library .

Fukuoka City as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"

Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"
A map of the temple grounds. Climbing the cliff path leads to the Niomon Gate, and climbing further leads to the Romon Gate. The large building to the left of the Romon Gate is the shrine temple, which was established as a result of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. The gabled roof building built on the cliff is the worship hall, and opposite it are the shrine buildings on podiums. Part of "Ippen Shonin Eden" (copy held by the National Diet Library )

Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine as seen in the "Eden of Ippen Shonin"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

時宗(じしゅう)の開祖、一遍上人の行状を描いた絵巻。京都、歓喜光寺(かんぎこうじ)に伝わり、全12巻からなるが、現在第7巻は寺を離れて東京国立博物館蔵。国宝。奥書により、1299年（正安1）一遍の高弟聖戒(しょうかい)が詞(ことば)を起草し、法眼(ほうげん)円伊(えんい)が絵を描いたことがわかる。一遍は伊予国（愛媛県）の生まれ。初め浄土宗を修めるが、のち独自の宗旨を打ち立てて時宗を興す。とくに踊念仏という独得の信仰形式を生み出し、全国を遊行(ゆぎょう)して貴賤(きせん)の間に念仏を勧め、民衆の教化(きょうげ)に努めた。絵巻は上人の行状を忠実に記述し、布教の模様とともに各地の名所や社寺の景観を多分に取り入れる点に特色がある。全体に人物を小さく扱い、むしろ背景の自然描写に深い関心が注がれ、四季おりおりの風景を美しくとらえて歌絵、名所絵的な趣(おもむき)を伝える。人物や建築の的確な描写には鎌倉時代の写実主義の傾向が強くうかがえ、また山水の構成には中国宋(そう)の山水画の影響が指摘できる。大和(やまと)絵の伝統に宋画の力強い表現を加味した作風は独得で、いくつかの類似の作品をみることから、円伊派の存在を考える説もある。詞書は、五彩に染め分けた絹地を料紙とし、当時の能書家と思われる4人の筆で書きつづられる。

　なお、一遍の行状を扱った絵巻には、このほか、宗俊(そうしゅん)の編じた1本があり、多くの流布本を残している。これは、一遍と第二祖の他阿(たあ)上人の伝記をあわせ説いたもので、俗に『遊行(ゆぎょう)上人絵巻』とよばれる。

［村重　寧］

『『新修日本絵巻物全集11　一遍上人聖絵』（1975・角川書店）』▽『『日本絵巻大成別巻　一遍上人絵伝』（1978・中央公論社）』

[参照項目] | 一遍

『一遍上人絵伝』
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『一遍上人絵伝』

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『一遍上人絵伝』にみる念仏踊

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