A study of the spread of the Vinaya in Japan

2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 13610413
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese history
• Research Institution: (財)元興寺文化財研究所
• Principal Investigator: INAGI Nobuko Gangoji Institute for Research of Cultural Property, Off. of Humanistic studies and Archaelogy, Researcher, 研究部, 研究員 (50106712)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAEKI Shungen Shuchiin University, Assistant Professor, 仏教福祉学科, 助教授 (30309067)
• Project Period (FY): 2001 – 2003
• Keywords: Vinaya texts / Todaiji / Sennyuji / Saimyouji / Yachuji / Jinpouji / 野中寺 / 神鳳寺

Research Abstract

(1)The purpose of this study is to research the historical spread of the Vinaya, especially from the medieval period to the early modern period, focusing on old materials.
(2)As this study for the medieval period, we have researched materials concerning the Vinaya which are possessed by Todaiji and Sennyuji.
(3)Todaiji-temple has 477 documents which were copied or printed between the Heian period and the Edo period. Saidaiji in Nara and Sennyuji in Kyoto also have many documents which were printed in the Kamakuia era.
(4)Sennynji has 73 items ; all of them, which are called 'the Sennyuji-temple version', are the revised edition of sutras which were printed in the Southern Song dynasty in China. Although they originally belonged to Daianji and Todaiji-Kaidanin in Nara, they were transferred to Sennyuji at the end of 15th century.
(5)In early 17th century, the trend of restoring the Vinaya which Saimyouji-Myounin (1576-1610) in Kyoto had started was mainly dragged by Yachuji-Emyou (1613-1679) and Jinpouji-Ennin(1609-1677) in Osaka. These temples played a role as a special hall for practicing the Vinaya.
(6)We have examined texts and records concerning the Vinaya possessed by these three temples, which are called Three Monk's Cells (三僧坊) : 213 items in Saimyouji, 1,272 items in Yachuji, and 197 items in Jinpouji.
(7)Most of the materials in these temples were copied and printed during the Edo period. They show us how the Vinaya spread during the Edo period.
(8)This is the first examination of the texts and reports concerning the Vinaya held in these temples. We expect that it will contribute much to future historical research on the Buddhism of the Edo period.