A study of the Compilation of the Saihō Shinanshō 西方指南抄: The Point Made by the Examination of Hōnen Shōnin Oseppō no koto 法然聖人御説法事

Abstract

In order to elucidate the compilation of the Saihō Shinanshō, an anthology of Hōnen’s words, I examined points omitted in the Hōnen Shōnin Oseppō no koto, that is one of the writings in the Saihō Shinanshō. As a result, I conclude that the omitted points have the same peculiarities, so these omissions are made by a certain person. If one holds that Shinran 親鸞 compiled the Saihō Shinanshō, one may consider that Shinran omitted these sentences. On the other hand, if one does not think so, one has to suppose that these omissions were made by another. Today, many researchers consider that Shinran omitted the sentences in Saihō Shinanshō. However, I find that Shinran did not comply Saihō Shinanshō, judging by the style of this anthology handed down until today.