Yakushin

A Shingon Buddhist monk from the early Heian period. He was from Bingo Province (Hiroshima Prefecture). He lived at a young age at Daian-ji Temple in Nara, and studied Hosso Buddhism under Myosen (789-868) of Gangoji Temple, and esoteric Buddhism under Soei. In 887 (Ninna 3), he received the Denpo Kanjo from Gennin (818-887) and became an Ajari. In 891 (Kanpei 3), he became the seventh head priest of Toji Temple, in 894 the chief priest of Todaiji Temple, and in 899 (Shotai 2) he became the precept master for Emperor Uda when he became a monk, and in 901 (Engi 1) he bestowed the Denpo Kanjo. He also had miraculous powers in curing the illness of the Empress Fujiwara no Yoshiko, and received such deep devotion that he was given a mountain villa in Higashiyama to turn into a temple. This was called Enjoji Temple, and since he passed away there he is known as Enjoji Sojo. His successor, Kancho, later lived at Henjoji Temple in Hirosawa, Saga, and greatly spread his teachings, from which the name Hirosawa school arose, but Masunobu is said to be the founder of the Hirosawa school. In 1308 (Enkei 1), he was given the title of Hongaku Daishi. He is the author of many books.

[Yukei Hirai October 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安前期の真言(しんごん)宗の僧。備後(びんご)国（広島県）の人。若年で南都大安寺(だいあんじ)に住し、元興寺(がんごうじ)明詮(みょうせん)（789―868）に法相(ほっそう)を学び、宗叡(しゅうえい)に密教を学ぶ。887年（仁和3）源仁(げんにん)（818―887）から伝法灌頂(でんぽうかんじょう)を受け阿闍梨(あじゃり)となる。891年（寛平3）東寺(とうじ)第7代長者、894年東大寺別当、899年（昌泰2）宇多(うだ)天皇出家の戒師となり、901年（延喜1）に伝法灌頂を授ける。また、尚侍(しょうじ)藤原淑子(ふじわらのよしこ)の病気平癒に霊験あって、深く帰依(きえ)を受け、東山の山荘を賜って寺とした。これを円城寺といい、ここに寂したので円城寺僧正といわれる。彼の法流を継ぐ寛朝(かんちょう)がのちに嵯峨(さが)広沢(ひろさわ)の遍照寺(へんじょうじ)に住して法流を大いに広めたところから、広沢流の名がおこったが、広沢流の祖師は益信に帰せられる。1308年（延慶1）本覚(ほんがく)大師の号を賜る。著作は多数ある。

［平井宥慶　2017年10月19日］

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