In this study, I examine why Shandao 善導 discussed the practice of repentance in the context of hell in his Fashi zan 法事讃. First, in examining the use of the term “hell” in Shandao’s works, it is seen that he almost always discusses hell in terms of the practice of nianfo 念仏or birth in Amida Buddha’s Pure Land, and it is only in the Fashi zan that he connects hell with the practice of repentance. Further, despite the fact that the moment of death is discussed in the Fashi zan, Shandao does not link the realms of hell to the moment of death or nianfo practice. The purpose of a detailed description of the realms of hell in the Fashi zan was certainly to create a context to enhance the practitioner’s aspiration for birth in Amida’s Pure Land. However, that alone does not explain why Shandao discussed repentance in the context of hell only in the Fashi zan and not in his other works. Thus, here I reexamine the relationship between repentance and hell in Shandao’s Fashi zan by looking at his understanding of sin. As a result, I show that his detailed explanation of hell is necessary to establish the foundations of repentance practice.
