Original Vow - Hongan

Japanese: 本願 - ほんがん

〘Noun〙① An original wish. An original vow. One's true desire. ※Man'yoshu (late 8th century) 5/794, poem "I have _never left this impure world _{, and} entrusted my original wish to be reborn _{in another} pure land _. " [Jin Shu - The Story of King Ryowu Zhao]② A Buddhist term. A vow made by Buddhas and bodhisattvas in past lives to save all living beings. The forty-eight vows of Amida Buddha and the twelve vows of Medicine Buddha. Original vow. → Amida's original vow. ※Shomonki (around 940): "With his original vow we shall be able to escape this suffering." [Mitsubishi Sutra - Part 2]③ The act of founding temples, pagodas, statues of Buddha, etc., and initiating Buddhist ceremonies. Also, the person who does so . The donor. The person making the original vow. ※Kanchi-in Hon Sanbo-e (984), lower part: "Since the time of the original vow, people have spoken and passed it down to the name Hihina no Kai." ④ A general term for Nembutsu practitioners at Mt. Koya in the Middle Ages. ※Ichigoto Hodan (around 1297-1350), lower part: "The _Hodo - in Hongan says that in the past, a monk would once question whether or not someone had a religious heart." ⑤ A half-monk, half-lay practitioner or saint who made social relief activities a part of his training.

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 本来の願い。もとからの誓願。本懐。※万葉（８Ｃ後）五・七九四右詩「従来猒_二離此穢土_一本願託_二生彼浄刹_一」〔晉書‐涼武照王伝〕② 仏語。仏・菩薩が過去世において、衆生(しゅじょう)を救済するために起こした誓願。阿彌陀仏の四十八願、薬師如来の十二願など。本誓(ほんぜい)。→彌陀の本願。※将門記（940頃か）「彼の本願を以て此の苦を脱るべし」〔無量寿経‐下〕③ 寺院、塔、仏像などを創立し、法会(ほうえ)を発起すること。また、その人。施主。本願主。※観智院本三宝絵（984）下「本願の時よりよの人いひつたへてひひなの会といへり」④ 中世、高野山で、念仏行者の総称。※一言芳談（1297‐1350頃）下「宝幢院本願(ホング_ハン)云、むかしの上人は、一期、道心の有無を沙汰しき」⑤ 社会救済の活動を修行の一環とした半僧半俗の行者や聖のこと。

出典　精選版日本国語大辞典精選版日本国語大辞典について　情報

<<: Ponkan - Ponkan (English spelling)

>>: Main family - Honkan