This paper examines how Shinran 親鸞 developed his views on his master Hōnen 法然 by focusing on the “Seishi-san” 勢至讃 (Hymns on Mahāsthāmaprāpta) in the Jōdo wasan 浄土和讃. In these hymns, Shinran treats Hōnen as if he were an incarnation of Bodhisattva Mahāsthāmaprāpta by referring to the Da foding rulai miyin xiuzheng liaoyi zhupusa wanxing shoulengyan jing 大仏頂如来密因修証了義諸菩薩万行首楞厳経 (hereafter Śūraṃgama-sūtra). In the Śūraṃgama-sūtra, Mahāsthāmaprāpta is a disciple of Amitābha Buddha. Shinran’s writing of the hymns with reference to passages in the Śūraṃgama-sūtra reflects his respect for Hōnen by identifying him as an incarnation of the bodhisattva who had received the teaching directly from Amitābha Buddha.
