Myoe - Myoe

A Kegon Buddhist scholar in the early Kamakura period. His given name was Koben. He was from Kishu (Wakayama Prefecture). He was the son of Taira no Shigekuni. He lost his parents at a young age, and entered Takao Jingo-ji Temple with the help of his uncle Joukaku (Gyo-ji, 1147-1226). He studied esoteric Buddhism and Kegon Buddhism under Sonjitsu and Keiga, and received the full precepts at Todaiji Kaidan-in. He also studied esoteric Buddhism under Kounen (1121-1204), and further studied Kegon Buddhism at Todaiji Sonsho-in, but in 1195 (Kenkyu 6), he lived in a hermitage on the peak of Shirakami in Kishu, where he lived a life of training. He lived in Toganoo on the recommendation of Mongaku of Mount Takao, but then moved back to Shirakami with more than 10 disciples, where he devoted himself to academic research and meditation. In 1205 (Genkyu 2), he admired Shakyamuni and wrote the "Record of the Journey of Great Tang India" and attempted to travel to India to worship at Buddhist sites, but was prevented from doing so by a divine message from Kasuga Myojin. In 1206 (Ken'ei 1), he rebuilt Takayama-ji Temple under the imperial decree of Emperor Gotoba and preached the Kegon sect, working to revive Nara Buddhism. He also wrote works such as "Zaijarin" (1212) and "Zaijarin Shogonki" (1213), in which he severely criticized Honen's (Genku's) exclusive nembutsu. He also received the Denpo Kanjo (transmission of the Law) from Jokaku, and attempted to fuse Kegon with Esoteric Buddhism, and to unify academic research and practical training, writing "Yuishin Kangyoshiki," "Sanji Sanbo Reishaku," and "Kegon Bukko Zanmai Kanhi Hozo." In his later years, he devoted himself to lectures, preaching, and Zen meditation, and also worked to popularize the Shingon sect of Buddhism, but on January 19, 4th year of the Kanki era, he passed away at the age of 60 while chanting the sacred name of Maitreya. His main works include "Nyugedatsumongi," "Kegon Shinshugi," and "Komyō Shingonku Gisaku." He is also known for having cultivated tea grown by Eisai in Toganoo and for his efforts in popularizing it.

[Notomijoten October 19, 2017]

"Murakami Sodo, 'Myoe Shonin at Takao-san Takao-ji Temple' (1929, Takao-ji Temple )" ▽ "Tanaka Hisao, 'Myoe' (1961, Yoshikawa Kobunkan) " ▽ "Shirasawa Masako, 'Myoe Shonin' (1974, Shinchosha)" ▽ "Okuda Isao, 'Myoe - Wanderings and Dreams' (1978, University of Tokyo Press)" ▽ "Myoe Shonin and Takao-ji Temple, edited by the Editorial Committee for Myoe Shonin and Takao-ji Temple (1981, Dohosha Publishing)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉初期の華厳(けごん)宗の学僧。諱(いみな)は高弁(こうべん)。紀州（和歌山県）の人。平重国(たいらのしげくに)の子。幼くして両親を失い、叔父の上覚(じょうかく)（行慈(ぎょうじ)。1147―1226）を頼り高雄(たかお)神護寺に入る。尊実(そんじつ)、景雅(けいが)らに密教や華厳を学び、東大寺戒壇院(かいだんいん)で具足(ぐそく)戒を受ける。また興然(こうねん)（1121―1204）から密教を学び、さらに東大寺尊勝院(そんしょういん)で華厳学の研究に励んだが、1195年（建久6）紀州白上(しらがみ)の峰に庵居(あんきょ)し、修行生活を送った。高雄山(たかおさん)の文覚(もんがく)の勧めで栂尾(とがのお)に住したが、ふたたび10余人の門弟と白上に移り、学問研究と禅定に励む。1205年（元久2）釈尊を慕い『大唐天竺里程記(だいとうてんじくりていき)』をつくり、インドに渡って仏跡を拝せんとしたが、春日明神(かすがみょうじん)の託宣により果たせなかった。1206年（建永1）後鳥羽(ごとば)院の院宣を受けて高山(こうざん)寺を再興して華厳宗を唱え、南都仏教の復興を図るとともに、『摧邪輪(ざいじゃりん)』（1212）、『摧邪輪荘厳記(しょうごんき)』（1213）などを著し、法然(ほうねん)（源空）の専修念仏(せんじゅねんぶつ)を厳しく批判した。また上覚から伝法灌頂(でんぽうかんじょう)を受け、華厳と密教との融合、学問研究と実践修行の統一を図り、『唯心観行式(ゆいしんかんぎょうしき)』『三時三宝礼釈(らいしゃく)』『華厳仏光三昧観秘宝蔵(けごんぶっこうざんまいかんひほうぞう)』を著す。晩年は講義、説戒、坐禅(ざぜん)修行に励み、光明真言(しんごん)の普及にも努めたが、寛喜(かんき)4年正月19日、弥勒(みろく)の宝号を唱えながら60歳で没した。おもな著書に『入解脱門義(にゅうげだつもんぎ)』『華厳信種義(しんしゅぎ)』『光明真言句義釈』などがある。承久(じょうきゅう)の乱（1221）で敗兵をかくまったことを機縁に、北条泰時(ほうじょうやすとき)と親交し、栄西(えいさい)が将来したチャを栂尾に栽培して、その普及に尽くしたことでも有名。

［納冨常天　2017年10月19日］

『村上素道著『栂尾山高山寺　明恵上人』（1929・高山寺）』▽『田中久夫著『明恵』（1961・吉川弘文館）』▽『白洲正子著『明恵上人』（1974・新潮社）』▽『奥田勲著『明恵――遍歴と夢』（1978・東京大学出版会）』▽『明恵上人と高山寺編集委員会編『明恵上人と高山寺』（1981・同朋舎出版）』

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