Variant Editions of the Honzanban-Shōbōgenzō 本山版正法眼蔵: Focusing on the 1802 edition

Abstract

This paper discusses the problem of the Tōsha-nomaki 謄写巻 in the Honzanban-Shōbōgenzō 本山版正法眼蔵, in an effort to provide a historical evaluation of the Tōsha-nomaki reproduced in the Jōshin-in-hon 定津院本.

The current official edition comprises 90 volumes reported in 1811, and 5 volumes of the Tōsha-nomaki published in 1906. The facsimile of the Tōsha-nomaki was originally determined to be reproduced at Eihei-ji 永平寺, but was additionally published in 1906.

As originally planned in 1802, there is a variant edition of the Tōsha-nomaki. The 1802 edition may be found at Eihei-ji and Jōshin-in 定津院. The Jōshin-in-hon was used as a manuscript draft by the editor Sodō-Ontatsu 祖道穏達. It is notable for being a copied version of the entire Tōsha-nomaki, that was not believed to exist.

First, I consider the Western-style book published by Ōuchi Seiran 大内青巒 in 1885 with regard to the Tōsha-nomaki published before 1906. The results suggest that no book for copying purposes actually existed at Eihei-ji. This deduction is made on the basis that Ontatsu also intended to publish the Tōsha-nomaki. Further, I compare the Jōshin-in-hon, Ōuchi-hon 大内本, and 1906 versions of the Tōsha-nomaki. In so doing, I clarify that the Ōuchi-hon was the source text for the 1906 edition and that the Jōshin-in-hon was unrelated to the other two editions.

Based on the above-mentioned reasons, I conclude that the Tōsha-nomaki in the Jōshin-in-hon edited by Ontatsu is the legitimate official version of the text, and that the 1906 edition is a variant edition, if the 1811 edition of the Jōshin-in-hon is considered.