On Kenni’s Chūgo hōben nenbutsu-mon: Focusing on the Theory; There Is No Essential Difference between the Doctrine of Tiantai Zhiyi and Shandao

Abstract

Kenni 顕意 (1238–1304), a monk in the Seizan branch of the Jōdo School, is one of the most remarkable persons who had interaction with Tendai monks. In this paper, I reexamine his ideas of Tendai doctrine through a study of the Chūgo hōben nenbutsu-mon. What I found is that, although he insists there is no essential difference between the doctrine of Tiantai Zhiyi 智顗 and that of Shandao 善導,the point behind his theory is criticisms aimed at Tendai in his era.