Legitimacy for Shugendo, Supported by Forged Origins and History

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K00312
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02010:Japanese literature-related
• Research Institution: Shujitsu University
• Principal Investigator: Tsuyoshi Kawasaki 就実大学, 人文科学部, 教授 (70281524)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 仁木 夏実 京都府立大学, 文学部, 准教授 (40367925)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 偽史 / 修験道 / 寺社縁起 / 山岳信仰 / 役行者 / 大峯 / 葛木峯

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research is aim to disclose the process by which a unique narrative of the origins and history of Shugendo was developed, while following the framework of the history of Japanese Buddhism transmitted through the three countries.
Focusing mainly on the origins of Omine, considered the most sacred mountain in Japan, it was disclosed that a history of pilgrimages and sutra burials by the emperor, high priests and ascetics was created in the late Heian period, reflecting the actual state of faith in Kinpusen and Kumano, which are at either end of Omine, but extending these pilgrimages and sutras burials to the entire Omine mountain range, and that the rituals of mountain worship were developed based on this forged history, while at the same time the narrative of the history of Japanese Buddhism was updated by this forged history.
This research was also made into the quality of their writings and the image of their author.

Free Research Field

日本文学（古典）

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

信仰の意味と歴史を記述する作業は、その主体の立ち位置から、あったはずのもの、あってほしいものを記述する作業となることが多い。そしてそれが書物となると、その書物を踏まえて修行と儀礼が行われ、さらに次の記述と書物が生まれる。日本の山岳信仰でも同様の現象が起きていたことを、平安後期から鎌倉前期に作られた大峯の縁起を取り上げて明らかにした。
それは歴史を記述する行為とそれによって生まれた史書や縁起のもつ普遍的な性格であり、それを公表することで、歴史の記述を相対化する姿勢の必要性を社会に示すことができる。