Hui Ke - Eka

A monk from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period in China. Although the historical facts are unclear, there is a legend within the Zen sect that makes him the second founder of Zen Buddhism. His posthumous name was Daiso Zenshi. His common surname was Hime, and his childhood name was Shinko. He was from Luoyang. He studied apocrypha as a child, and later read Buddhist scriptures, and became a monk under Kozan Hojyo in Longmen. He then learned of the Indian monk Bodhidharma and visited him, but was not allowed to enter immediately. He spent a night in the snow, cutting off his arm to show his sincerity, and was then allowed to become Bodhidharma's disciple, which later became the subject of the painting "Hui Ke Cuts Off His Arm." He is also said to have attained enlightenment through a dialogue with Anjin, inherited Bodhidharma's teachings, and preached in Yedu (Henan Province). He was one of the researchers and lecturers of the Lankavatāraṇika Sutra. He is said to have passed away on March 16, 13th year of the Kaihuang era.

[Shu Ishii January 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、南北朝時代の僧。史実は不詳であるが、禅宗内に伝承があり、禅宗の第二祖とされる。諡号(しごう)は大祖禅師。俗姓は姫(き)氏、幼名は神光。洛陽(らくよう)の人。幼いころは外典(げてん)を学び、のちに仏典をみて、竜門の香山宝静(こうざんほうじょう)の下で出家。ついでインド僧の達磨(だるま)のことを知って尋ねたが、すぐに入門は許されず、一晩雪中で過ごして、臂(ひじ)を断ち切って誠意を示し、許されて弟子となったといわれ、これはのち「慧可断臂(だんぴ)」の画題となった。また安心(あんじん)問答により証悟(しょうご)して、達磨の法を嗣(つ)いで、鄴都(ぎょうと)（河南省）で説法したという。『楞伽経(りょうがきょう)』の研究講説者の一人。開皇(かいこう)13年3月16日示寂と伝える。

［石井修道　2017年1月19日］

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