1996 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

A Study of the Histories of Enjoji in Nara and their ancient documents.

Research Project

Project/Area Number	07610435
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	国文学
Research Institution	MEIJI UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator	HINATA Kazumasa Meiji Univ./Facluty of Literature/Prof., 文学部, 教授 (90079426)
Project Period (FY)	1995 – 1996
Keywords	"Enjoji Engi" / "Chion-in Engi" / Midanyorai Reioden / Enjo temple / Amitabha / responses from Amitabha / Miraculous signs
Research Abstract	"Enjoji Engi" (The history of Washu Ninnikusen Enjo temple), "Washu Ninnikusen Honzon Midanyorai Reioden" (Miraculous signs from Amitabha, the principal image of Enjoji), "Chion-in Engi" (The history of Chion-in temple) and so on, have been handed down in Enjoji in Nara. They have never been studied yet. In thisi research, I would like to show their contents and the dates of compositions, and also reproduce each history. "Enjoji Engi" states that the ex-Emperor Shomu asked Koro Osho to found the temple in the 8th year of Tenpyoshoho (756). According to it, the temple had not been called Enjoji until Saint Myozen (Myouzen Shonin) reconstracted it in the mid-eleventh century. "Enjoji Engi" is the authentic history of Enjoji from its origin up to the 17th century. It is composed of episod about the achievements of principal priests. "Washu Ninnikusen Honzon Midanyorai Reioden" deals with good omens and responses from Amitahba, the principal image of the temple, to the faith of sixteen priests who devoted themselves to the Buddha from 12th to the 13th century. The emphasis throughout is very much on praising the priests deep faith. Both of "Enjoji Ebgi" and "Midanyorai Reioden" were written early in the 17th century. "Chion-in Engi" records that Master Eiko (Eiko Ajari) sent his disciples to Korea to ask for Tripitaka Sutra and bring back in the late 15th century. It is important as one of the records of relationship between Korea and Japan in this period. It was composed in the mid-eighteen century.