Maeda Eun

A Buddhist scholar of the Meiji and Taisho periods. Born in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, at a branch temple of the Shinshu Honganji sect. He studied at the Kyoto Nishiyama School of Teaching, which was established by Nishi Honganji, and acquired classical Buddhist studies from Daiho Rissho (1804-1884) of Miidera (Onjoji). In 1880 (Meiji 13), he returned home after his father's death, but went back to Kyoto and studied the history of Jodo Shinshu under Matsushima Zenjo (1806-1886) in Kyushu. In 1888, he went to Tokyo and joined the Great Union of Respecting the Emperor and Honbutsu (Buddhist sect) with Ouchi Seiran and others, and was involved in political activities for a time. In 1903 (Meiji 36), he received a doctorate in literature for his work "A Treatise on the History of Mahayana Buddhism." He served as a lecturer at Tokyo Imperial University and other institutions, and as president of Toyo University and Ryukoku University. He also contributed to the publication of the Dai Nippon Zokuzokyo. His other works include the Honganji School Academic History and the Tendai School Outline. He is known for his style of scholarship that applied traditional Buddhist studies to the modern era.

[Fumiyoshi Sueki October 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治・大正期の仏教学者。三重県桑名の真宗本願寺派の末寺に生まれる。西本願寺の設立した京都西山教授校に学び、三井寺(みいでら)（園城寺）の大宝律師（1804―1884）から古典的な仏教学を習得した。1880年（明治13）父の死によりいったん帰郷したが、ふたたび京都へ上り、さらに九州の松島善譲(まつしまぜんじょう)（1806―1886）のもとで浄土真宗の歴史を研究した。1888年には東京に上り、大内青巒(おおうちせいらん)らの尊皇奉仏大同団に加わり、一時期政治活動に従った。1903年（明治36）『大乗仏教史論』により文学博士の学位を受ける。東京帝国大学などの講師、東洋大学・龍谷(りゅうこく)大学などの学長を歴任。また『大日本続蔵経』の刊行にも尽力した。著述はほかに『本願寺派学事史』『天台宗綱要』などがある。伝統的な仏教学を近代に生かした学風で知られる。

［末木文美士　2017年10月19日］

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