Relations Between the Pure Land Buddhism of Hōnen and Jōshō: On the Interpretation of the Forty-Eight Vows

Abstract

Jōshō 静照 (?–1003) named Dharmākara’s 法蔵 48 vows one by one in his Amida nyorai shijūhachigan shaku 阿弥陀如来四十八願釈. Hōnen 法然 (1133–1212) accepted many of these. In his Gyakushu seppō 逆修説法, Hōnen interpreted the contents of the 19^th and 12^th vows using Jōshō’s explanation. In his Senchakushū 選択集, , Hōnen understood the word ‘even’ 乃至 in the 18^th vow referring to Jōshō’s explanation. Hōnen called this vow “the vow of birth through the nembutsu” 念仏往生願, the name given it by Jōshō. However, referring not to the name but to the details of his understanding, Hōnen followed Shandao’s 善導 interpretation. In this manner, Hōnen reinforced Shandao’s interpretation using Jōshō’s denominations.