Chief of the ministry - Bencho

Japanese: 弁長 - べんちょう

Year of death: Rekijin 1. Leap Year 2.29 (1238.4.15)
Year of birth: 2nd year of Oho, 5th day of the 6th month (1162.6.20)
A monk from the Heian and Kamakura periods, he is the second founder of the Chinzei school of the Jodo sect of Buddhism. He is also known as Seikobo. He was born in Kazukisho, Onga County, Chikuzen Province (Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture). He took the ordination at Chikushi Kanzeon-ji Temple. He studied Tendai Buddhism under Yuishin at Hakugan-ji Temple and Jojaku at Myojo-ji Temple. In 1183 (Juei 2), he climbed Mount Hiei and studied Tendai Buddhism under Kan'ei of Toto Nandani, and later Hojibo Shoshin of Higashidani. In 1190 (Kenkyu 1), he returned to his hometown of Chikuzen Province and became the head of the Aburayama school, but after the death of his younger brother Sanmyobo, he felt the impermanence of the world and became devoted to Jodo Buddhism. In the same year, he went to Kyoto to order a principal image to be placed in the three-story pagoda of Myojo-ji Temple, and became a disciple of Honen. The following year, he received the attached "Seikenshu." He went to Iyo Province (Ehime Prefecture) on the orders of Honen to promote his teachings, but once again studied Senshu Nembutsu under Honen. In 1204, he returned to Chikuzen Province again, and spent the latter half of his life preaching the Nembutsu sect in Chikuzen, Chikugo, and Higo (Kumamoto Prefecture). In 1212, on March 13th, which corresponds to the vigil for Zendo and the 77th day vigil for Honen, he performed Beji Nembutsu for the deceased at the Hanshu Sammai Dojo on Mount Hiko, and had a spiritual dream. He brought a statue of Zendo to Hakata and preached for 100 days. With the support of the Kusano clan, he founded Zendo-ji Temple in Hongo, Mii County, Chikugo Province (Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture). In 1228, he performed Beji Nembutsu for 48 days at Ojo-in Temple in Higo Province. He sent one of his disciples, Soen, to Song China to seek Zendo's teachings on Amida. After the death of Honen, he lamented the situation of confusion among his disciples in Kyoto, strengthened his own sense of righteousness, wrote "Matsudai Nembutsu Jushuin", established many Nembutsu training halls in Kitakyushu, and nurtured disciples such as Yoshitada. <Works> "Tetsusenshu", "Jodoshu Yoshu", "Rinju Yojinsho" <References> Sakata Yoshihiro, "The Teachings of Chinzei Seiko Shonin"

(Hayashi Jun)

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

Japanese:

没年：暦仁1.閏2.29(1238.4.15)
生年：応保2.5.6(1162.6.20)
平安・鎌倉時代の僧で浄土宗鎮西派の2祖。聖光房ともいう。筑前国遠賀郡香月荘(福岡県北九州市)に生まれる。筑紫観世音寺で登壇受戒する。白巌寺の唯心,明星寺の常寂について天台を学ぶ。寿永2(1183)年に比叡山に登って,東塔南谷の観叡,のち東谷の宝地房証真に師事して天台宗を学ぶ。建久1(1190)年郷里の筑前国に戻り,油山の学頭になるが,弟の三明房の死に遭い世の無常を感じ,浄土教に傾倒する。同8年に明星寺三重塔に安置する本尊を注文のため上洛した折に法然の門下に入る。翌年に『選択集』の付属を受けた。法然の命で伊予国(愛媛県)に勧化に行くが,再び法然のもとで専修念仏を学ぶ。元久1(1204)年再び筑前国に帰り,後半生を筑前,筑後,肥後(熊本県)などでの念仏宗の布教に費やした。建暦2(1212)年に善導の逮夜と法然の77日逮夜に当たる3月13日に彦山の般舟三昧道場で追善のため別時念仏を行ったときに,霊夢を感じたため,善導の像を博多に迎えて,100日間の説教教化を行った。草野氏の援助によって筑後国三井郡本郷(福岡県久留米市)に善導寺を創建する。安貞2(1228)年に肥後国の往生院で48日間の別時念仏を行った。門弟のひとりの宗円を宋に遣わし,善導の弥陀義を求めさせた。法然の没後に京都の門弟の間の異義紛々たる状況を嘆いて,自ら正当意識を強め,『末代念仏授手印』を選述し,北九州に多くの念仏道場を建立し,良忠ら門下を育てた。<著作>『徹選択集』『浄土宗要集』『臨終用心鈔』<参考文献>坂田良弘『鎮西聖光上人の教学』

(林淳)

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