Illustrated biography of the saint Honen

It tells the story of the life of Honen (Genku), the founder of the Jodo sect, and is available in the form of picture scrolls and hanging scrolls. The first picture scroll was the "Honen Shonin Denho-e" (the original no longer exists), created in 1237 (Kasei 3), 25 years after Honen's death. Many different works were created as the Jodo sect developed, including the two-volume version at Zojoji Temple, the Rin'a version, the Kogan version, and the "Shui Kotoku-den" (the 1323 version at Jofukuji Temple in Ibaraki still exists), compiled by Kakunyo in 1301 (Shoan 3). In particular, the 48-volume version (Illustrated Acts of the Behavior of Honen Shonin) handed down at Chion-in Temple in Kyoto is a compilation of previous stories of Honen, and clarifies the trinity of Honen, the Jodo sect, and Chion-in Temple. By imperial order of the retired Emperor Go-Fushimi, the scroll was drafted and compiled by Shunsho, a priest of Mount Hiei, and the text was written by eight authors, including the retired Emperor, the emperor, the retired emperor, and the nobles. The illustrations were ordered to be done by the art office, and it is said to have taken more than 10 years to complete from 1307 (Tokuji 2) (according to the Imperial Revised Yoshisui Enko Daishi Goden Engi). However, it is believed to have actually been created with the participation of many artists from the end of the Kamakura period to the beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts period (first half of the 14th century). It is the largest in scale not only in the Honen Eden but also in the history of picture scrolls, and is important in that it conveys the style of painting in the Yamato E style from that period. It is a national treasure. Other surviving hanging scrolls include the Myogenji version in Aichi and the Saidoji version in Mie, which shows that it was used for general evangelism.

[Yasushi Murashige]

"Shigemi Komatsu (ed.), "Continuation of Japanese Picture Scrolls 1-3: The Illustrated Biography of Saint Honen" (1981, Chuokoron-Shinsha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

浄土宗の開祖、法然（源空）の生涯を説いたもので、絵巻、掛幅の形式がある。絵巻は法然没後25年目の1237年（嘉禎3）につくられた『法然上人伝法絵』（原本伝存せず）が初例で、その後、増上寺本二巻、琳阿(りんあ)本、弘願(ぐがん)本、また1301年（正安3）覚如(かくにょ)の撰(せん)になる『拾遺古徳伝』（1323年作の茨城・常福寺本が現存）など、浄土宗の発展とともに諸種の作品が数多くつくられた。とくに京都・知恩院に伝わる48巻本（法然上人行状絵図）は従来の法然伝を集大成したもので、法然、浄土宗、知恩院の三位(さんみ)一体の関係を明らかにしている。後伏見(ごふしみ)上皇の勅命により、叡山(えいざん)の舜昌(しゅんしょう)法印が起草集成し、詞書(ことばがき)は上皇はじめ天皇、法皇、公卿(くぎょう)ら八筆が分担執筆、絵は絵所に命じ、1307年（徳治2）から10年余りを費やして完成したとされる（『勅修吉水円光(きっすいえんこう)大師御伝縁起』による）。しかし実際には、鎌倉末から南北朝初期にかけて（14世紀前半）多数の画家が参与してつくられたものと思われる。法然絵伝のみならず、絵巻の歴史上でも最大の規模を誇り、またこの時期の大和(やまと)絵正系の画風を伝える意味でも重要である。国宝。このほか掛幅画の遺品としては、愛知・妙源寺本、三重・西導寺本などがあり、一般の布教に供されたことがわかる。

［村重　寧］

『小松茂美編『続日本絵巻大成1～3　法然上人絵伝』（1981・中央公論社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例