Takamitsu - Ryuko

Japanese: 隆光 - りゅうこう

Year of death: June 7, 9th year of Kyoho (July 26, 1724)
Year of birth: 20th March 1649 (Keian 2nd year 2nd month 8th)
A Shingon Buddhist monk in the early and mid-Edo period. A contributor to the rise of the Toyoyama school and the mastermind behind the Edict for the Compassionate Treatment of Living Things. Born in Nijo Village, Soeshimo County, Yamato (Nara City). Entered the monk Choi of Toshodaiji Temple at the age of 10, and became a monk at the age of 12. In addition to studying esoteric Buddhism under various masters, including Ryota at Hasedera Temple (Toyoyama), he studied Yogacara, Kegon, and Kusha at various temples in Nara, and Confucianism, Laozi, and Zhuangzi in Kyoto. In 1686 (Jokyo 3), Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who had heard of his fame, invited him to Chisokuin in Edo, where he was in charge of prayers for the protection of the castle. Due to his miraculous powers, he was favored by Tsunayoshi and his birth mother, Keishoin, and was promoted to Gon Sojo. The following year, in response to Tsunayoshi and Keishoin's wishes, he is said to have recommended the Edict for the Compassionate Treatment of Living Things. In 1688, he moved Chishu-in to the outside of Kandabashi, which was in the evil direction of Edo Castle, and built a large temple, which was later renamed Goji-in. In 1690, he succeeded in bestowing the posthumous title of Kokyo Daishi to Kakuban, the founder of the Shingi school. In 1691, he became the monk recorder who oversaw the entire Shingi school, and was also appointed as the sect's first Daisojo. Until his retirement in 1707, he spent 22 years spiritually protecting the peace of the Shogunate within Edo Castle, and during this time he used his influence to work hard to restore temples and shrines all over the country that had fallen into disrepair. However, with the death of Tsunayoshi, he lost all of his influence, and Goji-in, which he had worked so hard to establish, disappeared after only 30 years. It can be said that both Takamitsu's success and downfall were due to his excessive political skills. His books include "Rishukyo Kaicho" (A Study of the Sutra of the True Parent). "The Diary of Takamitsu Sojo" is valuable for understanding the historical situation around the Genroku period. <References> Ryosho Hayashi, "Shogun Tsunayoshi and Gojiin Ryuko" (Buddhism and Politics and Economy, edited by the Japanese Association for Buddhist Studies)

(Masaki Akira)

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

Japanese:

没年：享保9.6.7(1724.7.26)
生年：慶安2.2.8(1649.3.20)
江戸前・中期の新義真言宗の僧。豊山派興隆の功労者,生類憐みの令の黒幕。大和添下郡二条村(奈良市)出身。10歳で唐招提寺朝意の門に入り,12歳で出家。長谷寺(豊山)の亮汰以下の諸師から密教を修学したほか,奈良諸寺で唯識,華厳,倶舎などを,京都で儒学老荘をも学んだ。貞享3(1686)年名声を耳にした将軍徳川綱吉に江戸知足院へ招聘され,城中鎮護の祈祷を担当。霊験あらたかなため綱吉と生母桂昌院の寵愛を受け,権僧正に抜擢された。翌4年綱吉と桂昌院の意を迎え,生類憐みの令を進言したという。元禄1(1688)年知足院を江戸城鬼門の神田橋外に移して大伽藍を建立,のちに護持院と改称した。同3年新義派の祖,覚鑁に対し興教大師の諡号宣下に成功。同8年新義派全体を統括する僧録司となり,同派初の大僧正にも就任した。宝永4(1707)年の引退まで,江戸城中にあって将軍家の安穏を霊的に守護すること22年におよび,この間権勢を利用して疲弊した各地の寺社復興にも尽力したが,綱吉死去に伴い威勢を一挙に喪失,開創に全力を尽くした護持院もわずかか30年で消滅した。隆光の成功も失脚も,ともに彼の過剰なほどの政治的手腕に原因があったといってよい。著書に『理趣経解嘲』など。『隆光僧正日記』は元禄前後の歴史状況を知るうえで貴重。<参考文献>林亮勝「将軍綱吉と護持院隆光」(日本仏教学会編『仏教と政治経済』)

(正木晃)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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