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A Research Study of Medieval Shinto Texts Archived at the Shinpukuji Temple

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18K00964
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
Research InstitutionWaseda University

Principal Investigator

TRENSON STEVEN  早稲田大学, 国際学術院, 准教授 (10595432)

Project Period (FY) 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Keywords密教 / 中世神道 / 即位灌頂 / 真言密教 / 真福寺 / 神祇書 / 醍醐寺
Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present research focuses on the relationship between Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyo) and Shinto during the medieval period in Japan. Concretely, it aims to clarify how medieval Shinto thought relates to the esoteric tradition of Daigoji. There are various beliefs and practices that characterize medieval Shinto, but one type of belief or practice that is especially interesting for the purpose of this study concerns the different types of abhisheka initiation or consecration rituals (kanjo). These are rituals in which a Buddhist master transmits various secrets about the emperor of Japan (tenno) and the Japanese gods (kami) to a disciple, to show the disciple the way to awakening. The present research revealed that the Shinto-related consecration rituals influenced by the esotericism of Daigoji emphasize the notions of the Buddha-Mother (butsumo) and the Jewel Woman (gyokunyo), besides relic and jewel beliefs.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、中世日本における密教と神道の交流について考察するものであり、特に、密教学界で問題とされている醍醐寺の密教と中世神道との関係に一光を投じることを目標とした。研究目標を果たせるために即位灌頂及び神祇灌頂の世界に絞って考察を進めた。その結果、醍醐寺の密教も中世神道も『瑜祇経』の経説を重要視した点が判明した。具体的に言えば、『瑜祇経』は愛染王が仏母でもあり、仏・菩薩及び国王の妻(つまり、玉女)でもあると主張するが、中世密教の即位法はその仏母信仰を取り入れていた。これは中世密教における性と王権という問題及び『瑜祇経』の意義を再考することを促す重要な発見であると言える。

Report

(6 results)
  • 2022 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • 2018 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (13 results)

All 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

All Journal Article (4 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 4 results) Presentation (8 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 7 results,  Invited: 1 results) Book (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] The Black Jewel of Shingon Tradition: A Historical Examination of Its Emergence, Characteristics, and Associated Rituals2023

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Journal Title

      The Eastern Buddhist

      Volume: 3/1 Pages: 27-66

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Buddhism and Martial Arts in Premodern Japan: New Observations from a Religious Historical Perspective2022

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Journal Title

      Religions

      Volume: 13 (440) Issue: 5 Pages: 1-23

    • DOI

      10.3390/rel13050440

    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Review of Gaetan Rappo, Rhetoriques de l’heresie dans le Japon medieval et moderne: Le moine Monkan (1278-1357) et sa reputation posthume.2020

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Journal Title

      Japanese Journal of Religious Studies

      Volume: 47(1) Pages: 177-182

    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Rice, Relics, and Jewels: The Network and Agency of Rice Grains in Medieval Japanese Esoteric Buddhism2018

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Journal Title

      Japanese Journal of Religious Studies

      Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Pages: 269-307

    • DOI

      10.18874/jjrs.45.2.2018.269-307

    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The Dragon and the Kami: Exploring the Connections Between the Esoteric Buddhist Tradition of Daigoji and Medieval Shinto2022

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      19th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS), Aug 15-19, 2022, Seoul, South Korea
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The Divine Mother and Consort: A New Perspective on Medieval Japanese Esoteric Buddhist Visions of Sacred Kingship2021

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      International Symposium "Objects, Texts, and Rituals: Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to the Transmission of Esoteric Buddhism," November 18-19, 2021, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The Dragon and the Emperor: Rainmaking and Divine Kingship in Medieval Japanese Esoteric Buddhism2021

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      AAS 2021 VIRTUAL Annual Conference (March 24, 2021)
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The Quest for Truth and Invective Behavior in a Medieval Japanese Buddhist Context: Original Enlightenment Thought as a Form of Postmodern Relativism2020

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      International Workshop "Insults, Hate Speech, and Denigration Invective Communication and the Dynamization of Social Order", Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium (February 3, 2020)
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Relic, Ritual, and Enlightenment: The Establishment of Jewel Rituals in Medieval Shingon Buddhism and the Role of Relics in the Realization of Bodily Buddhahood2020

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      International Conference "Esoteric Buddhism and East Asian Society", University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (March 8, 2020)
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The Quest for Truth and Invective Behavior in a Buddhist Context: Focusing on Two Salient Cases in Medieval Japanese Buddhism2019

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      International Workshop "Invectivity: A New Paradigm in Cultural Studies?", Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan (April 2, 2019)
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] The Question of “Perverse Teachings” (jakyo) in Medieval Shingon Discourse: Focusing on Sexual Symbolisms in the Daigo and Ono Lineages2019

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      The 3rd EAJS Conference in Japan, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan (September 14, 2019)
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 米・舎利・宝珠-中世日本の密教における米粒のエージェンシーとネットワーク2018

    • Author(s)
      Steven Trenson
    • Organizer
      法政大学国際日本学研究所-新しい「国際日本学」を目指して(5)
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Invited
  • [Book] Buddhist Encounters and Identities Across East Asia (Dynamics in the History of Religions)2018

    • Author(s)
      Claudine Bautze-Picron, Rob Linrothe, Megan Bryson, Steven Trenson, Bryan Levman, Kaiqi Hua, Max Deeg, et al.
    • Total Pages
      454
    • Publisher
      Brill
    • ISBN
      9789004366008
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report

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Published: 2018-04-23   Modified: 2024-01-30  

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