The Picture of Rankei Dōryū in the Dōshō-an Documents Preserved at the Eihei-ji and Sales Promotion in the Content of Creating Zen History

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to take a peep at the early-modern image of Rankei Dōryū (Chinese Lanxi Daolong).

The Dōshō-an Yonse-tenyakukashira-den 道正庵四世典薬頭伝 and the Dōgen-Zenji-yonhyakukaiki-saimon 道元禅師四百回忌祭文 compiled by Kinoshita Bokujun (1616–1690), the 19th generation head of the Dōshō pharmacy of Kyoto, are central historical records. Concerning Kinoshita Bokujun’s image of Rankei Dōryū, this paper examines the role played by these two historical sources.

Toward this end, I introduce new historical sources about the Dōshō-an’s medicine Shinsen-gedoku-manbyōen 道正庵神仙解毒万病円.

It is recorded in the Dōshō-an Yonse-tenyakukashira-den that Rankei suffered from dysentery and was on the verge of death, but recovered upon being treated by the 4th generation pharmacist of Dōshō-an, Fujiwara Tadatoshi. And it is recorded in the Dōgen-Zenji-yonhyakukaiki-saimon that it was on the recommendation of Dōgen that Hōjō Tokiyori appointed Rankei as the abbot of Kenchō-ji. I conclude that it was in order to promote sales of Dōshō-an’s Shinsen-gedoku-manbyōen medicine that Bokujun offered this depiction of Rankei. I also introduce the Yōshūhushi 雍州府志 and Nihonkanoko 日本鹿子 as new historical sources relevant to the Dōshō-an’s Shinsen-gedoku-manbyōen, and suggest that these sources show that this medicine was widely recognized by people and used as gifts and as a specialty or prestige item.

I conclude that the picture of Rankei Dōryū seen in early-modern times in the Dōshō-an documents was used to form a story for the purpose of promoting the Dōshō-an’s medicine Shinsen-gedoku-manbyōen.