Good speech - Roben

A scholar of the Kegon and Hosso sects in the Nara period. Founder of Todaiji Temple. A descendant of immigrants from Baekje. He is said to have originated in Omi Province (Shiga Prefecture) or Sagami Province (Kanagawa Prefecture). He studied Hosso doctrine under Gien, and in 728 (Jinki 5), he was chosen as one of the Chigyoso (wisdom monks) of Kinsho-sanbo Temple, which was established following the premature death of Emperor Shomu's Crown Prince Motoi (727-728). In 740 (Tenpyo 12), he began studying the Avatamsaka Sutra with Daianji Shinjo (Shinsho?-742) as his lecturer, and in January 743, he gave a lecture on the Golden Light Supreme King Sutra, leading the Buddhist world and creating the opportunity for Tozanji to become Yamato Kokubunji Temple and the site of the construction of the Great Buddha of Vairocana. In constructing the Great Buddha, he assisted Emperor Shomu along with Saeki no Sukune Imamishi and Gyoki, and after the Great Buddha Opening Ceremony in April 752 (Tenpyo Shoho 4), he was appointed the first chief priest of Todaiji Temple on May 1st. He welcomed the visit of the precept master Ganjin and his entourage to Todaiji Temple, and when the retired Emperor Shomu passed away, he was appointed Daisozu (Great Priest) as a leader in the Buddhist world due to his achievements in caring for the sick Emperor Shomu during his lifetime, and in September 763 (Tenpyo Hoji 7), he was appointed to the highest rank of Sojo (Sojo). In his later years, he was involved in the construction of Ishiyama-dera Temple, and passed away on November 16, leap year 4 of the Hoki era, at the age of 85.

The current Todaiji Temple Kaisan-do Hall houses a seated statue of Roben, sculpted by Yukyo (986-1071) in November 1019 (Kannin 3). The wooden Nyoi (praying wish-granting prayer statue) held in the statue's right hand is said to have been owned by the Buddha during his lifetime and dates back to the Nara period.

[Shunho Horiike October 19, 2017]

"Study on the History of Buddhism in Nara, Vol. 1, by Shunho Horiike (1980, Hozokan)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良時代の華厳(けごん)宗、法相(ほっそう)宗の学僧。東大寺の開山。百済(くだら)系渡来人の後裔(こうえい)。その出身地は近江(おうみ)国（滋賀県）あるいは相模(さがみ)国（神奈川県）と伝える。義淵(ぎえん)に師事して法相教学を学び、728年（神亀5）に聖武(しょうむ)天皇の皇太子基(もとい)親王（727―728）の夭死(ようし)によって建てられた金鐘山房（寺）の智行僧(ちぎょうそう)の一人に選ばれた。740年（天平12）に大安寺審詳(しんじょう)（審祥。？―742）を講師として『華厳経』の研究を始め、743年正月には『金光明最勝王経(こんこうみょうさいしょうおうきょう)』の講説を行うなど、仏教界を先導し、当山寺が大和(やまと)国分寺、さらに盧遮那(るしゃな)大仏造立の地となる機縁をつくった。大仏造像にあたっては佐伯宿禰今毛人(さえきのすくねいまえみし)や行基(ぎょうき)などとともに聖武天皇を助け、752年（天平勝宝4）4月の大仏開眼供養会(だいぶつかいげんくようえ)のあと、5月1日に初代の東大寺別当に任ぜられた。伝戒師鑑真(がんじん)一行が東大寺に詣(もう)でたときはこれを迎え、聖武上皇の死去にあたっては生前の看病の功により、また仏教界の領袖(りょうしゅう)として大僧都(だいそうず)となり、763年（天平宝字7）9月に僧正(そうじょう)の極官に補せられた。晩年には石山寺(いしやまでら)の造営にも関係し、宝亀(ほうき)4年閏(うるう)11月16日に85歳で没した。

　現今東大寺開山堂には、1019年（寛仁3）11月に有慶(ゆうきょう)（986―1071）によって造像された良弁坐像(ざぞう)が安置され、その右手に持つ木造如意(にょい)は生前所持のものと伝え、奈良時代の製作にかかるものである。

［堀池春峰　2017年10月19日］

『堀池春峰著『南都仏教史の研究　上』（1980・法蔵館）』

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