Masuda Nawate

Japanese: 益田縄手 - ますだのなわて

Years of birth: unknown. Engineer and carpenter involved in the construction of Todaiji Temple. Born in Asuwa County, Echizen Province (Fukui Prefecture). It is believed that he was appointed to the Todaiji Temple Construction Office through the recommendation of Asuwa County's Dairyo, Ikue Tojin, Echizen Kokushi Sho, and Ando Yutari, chief clerk at the Todaiji Temple Construction Office. In February 756, Tenpyo Shoho 8, he was employed as a carpenter in charge of the construction of the Great Buddha Hall, and the following year he was promoted from Joroku Joshi to Jushi Fifth Rank. In 758, he paid 300 mon and was involved in the copying of the Great Prajnaparamita Sutra, and in the sixth year he recommended the sutra master Hatano Okuni to the copying office. That year, due to his excellent woodworking skills, he was asked for his opinion on the construction of Ishiyama-dera Temple (Otsu City). In the 8th year of the Tenpyo Jingo era, he was given the surname Murasaki in the 1st year of the Tenpyo Jingo era (765), and was involved in the construction of Saidaiji Temple (Nara City). In the 3rd year of the Jingo Keiun era (769), he was promoted to the 5th rank. He was a unique individual who was an engineer and was awarded the rank of Nai-i. <References> Kaoru Inoue, "Study on the History of Buddhism in the Nara Period"

(Jiro Iwamoto)

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

Japanese:

生年：生没年不詳
東大寺造営の技術者。大工。越前国(福井県)足羽郡出身。足羽郡大領の生江東人や越前国史生,造東大寺司主典の安都雄足らの推挙によって造東大寺司に勤めることになったと推察される。天平勝宝8(756)年2月に大仏殿院工事を担当する現場「造大殿所」の統率者である大工として従事,翌年正六位上から外従五位下となった。天平宝字2(758)年に銭300文を納めて,大般若経の書写にかかわっており,6年には経師秦男公を写経所に推薦している。この年木工の技術に優れていたため石山寺(大津市)造営工事について意見を求められた。8年従五位下,天平神護1(765)年,無姓から連の姓を賜り,西大寺(奈良市)の造営にも関与した。神護景雲3(769)年従五位上にのぼった。技術者で内位を授けられた特異な人物である。<参考文献>井上薫『奈良朝仏教史の研究』

(岩本次郎)

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