Interrelations of Shingon Esoteric Interpretations with the Daijokishinron Commentaries of the Disciples of Myoe

Abstract

　Myoe-bo Koben (1173–1232) of the Toganosan Kosan-ji Temple is considered to have established a practical system based on esoteric thought that retained the Kegon doctrine in its center. In this paper, we consider Kishinron-Honsho-Choshuki and Kishinron Bekki Choshuki, which are verbatim records of interpretations of the Daijokishinron or Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, written by disciples of Myoe, and examine how the interpretations of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism relate to them. These are only commentaries on Daijokishinron-giki and Bekki. The contents of the lectures delivered by Myoe and Kikai are reflected in the text and have been a subject of interest for some time as works that present the actual condition of how the Kegon doctrine was inherited by the Kosan-ji Temple. However, there are also mediations by risshi or isshiin Buddhist priests, who may be Shingon monks of Koyasan Temple; it is also possible to see references to the Shingon perspectives and the relation between Kegon and Shingon. It seems that Myoe attempted to combine Shingon and Kegon, and it is possible to understand the negotiations of the mutual influence of the lineage of thought by following movements among those involved in detail.