Ekan

Japanese: 慧灌 - えかん

A monk of the Asuka period. Dates of birth and death unknown. According to the Nihon Shoki, he came to Japan in 625 (the 33rd year of the reign of Empress Suiko) as a tribute to the King of Goryeo, and was appointed as a monk. According to the Sangoku Bukpo Dentsu Engi, Ekan learned the Sanron theory from the Chinese monk Jiaxiang (Kishizo), came to Japan, became the founder of the Sanron sect, and lived at Hokko-ji Temple in Asuka. Regarding the appointment of a monk, according to the Todaiji Gusho, during the reign of Emperor Kokutoku, the whole country was hit by a drought, so Ekan was summoned and, wearing a blue robe, lectured on the Sanron theory, which resulted in a great rainfall, and as a reward he was appointed as a monk. According to the Genko Shakusho, he lectured on the Sanron theory as a prayer for rain in 625, the year of his visit to Japan, and in his later years he built Inoue-ji Temple in Shiki County, Kawachi, and spread the Sanron theory.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

飛鳥時代の僧。生没年不詳。《日本書紀》によれば，625年(推古33)高麗王に貢せられて来朝し，僧正に任ぜられたとある。《三国仏法伝通縁起》には，慧灌は中国の嘉祥大師(吉蔵)から三論を学んで日本へ来て，三論宗の始祖となり，飛鳥の法興寺に住したとある。僧正の補任（ぶにん）について，《東大寺具書》によると，孝徳天皇のとき，天下が干ばつにおそわれたので，慧灌を召し寄せ，青衣を着けて三論を講ぜしめたところ，大いに甘雨が降り，その褒賞として僧正に任ぜられたと伝え，《元亨釈書》には祈雨の三論講説を625年来朝の年とし，晩年には河内の志紀郡に井上（いのえ）寺を建てて三論を広めたとある。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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