Rankei Doryu

A Rinzai monk from the Kamakura period. The founder of the Daikaku school. A native of Fu Jiang, Shu (Sichuan Province), China. He initially studied Buddhism, but switched to Zen and studied under Bujun Shihan and Chizetsu Dochu (1169-1250), among others. He attained enlightenment under Mumyo Esho (1162-1237) of Yangshan and inherited the teachings. In 1246 (Kangen 4), he was invited by Hojo Tokiyori to visit Japan with his disciple Gyo Shonin (1217-1281) and stayed at Engaku-ji Temple in Hakata and Raigo-in Temple of Sennū-ji Temple in Kyoto, but was invited by Tokiyori to live at Jufuku-ji Temple in Kamakura and then Joraku-ji Temple. In Kamakura, the Yojo school of Zen Buddhism was the mainstream, centered around Jufuku-ji Temple, but Rankei helped establish the pure Zen of the Song Dynasty in Kamakura. In 1253 (Kencho 5), Tokiyori built the Great Zen Garden Kenchoji Temple, modelled on Keizan, and invited Rankei to be its founder. He later lived at Kenninji Temple and other places, but was briefly exiled to Kai (Yamanashi Prefecture) due to rumors, where he was pardoned and returned to live at Jufukuji Temple. Hojo Tokimune also wanted to build a Zen temple, but Rankei passed away on July 24, 1281, before it was completed. He was given the imperial title of Daikaku Zenji, which is said to be the first title of Zenji in Japan. He wrote Daikaku Zenji Zazenron, a three-volume collection of sayings. He had many disciples who inherited the Dharma, and his school is called the Daikaku school.

[Rikizan Ishikawa April 18, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉時代の臨済(りんざい)宗の渡来僧。大覚(だいがく)派の祖。中国蜀(しょく)（四川(しせん)省）涪江(ふうこう)の人。初め教学を学んだが、禅に転じ無準師範(ぶじゅんしはん)、癡絶道冲(ちぜつどうちゅう)（1169―1250）らに参じ、陽山の無明慧性(むみょうえしょう)（1162―1237）の下で契悟(かいご)し法を嗣(つ)いだ。1246年（寛元4）北条時頼(ほうじょうときより)の招聘(しょうへい)を受け、弟子義翁紹仁(ぎおうしょうにん)（1217―1281）らとともに来朝し、博多(はかた)の円覚(えんがく)寺、京都の泉涌(せんにゅう)寺来迎(らいごう)院に寄寓(きぐう)したが、時頼の招きで鎌倉の寿福(じゅふく)寺、ついで常楽(じょうらく)寺に住した。鎌倉の地は寿福寺を中心に葉上(ようじょう)流の兼習禅が主流を占めていたが、蘭渓により宋(そう)朝の純粋禅が鎌倉に定着することになった。1253年（建長5）時頼は径山(きんざん)に模した大禅苑(えん)建長寺を建立し、蘭渓を開山に請(しょう)じた。その後、建仁(けんにん)寺などにも住したが、一時流言によって甲斐(かい)（山梨県）に流され、許されてふたたび寿福寺に住した。北条時宗(ときむね)も禅寺を建てようとしたが、蘭渓はその完成を待つことなく、弘安(こうあん)元年7月24日示寂。大覚禅師の勅号を賜ったが、これが日本における禅師号の最初という。語録3巻、『大覚禅師坐禅(ざぜん)論』の著がある。嗣法(しほう)の弟子も多く、その門流を大覚派と称する。

［石川力山　2017年4月18日］

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