Abstract
Although empirical studies using questionnaire-based methods have shown simple correlations between the meanings
of death and the religiosity of elderly people, the qualitative aspects of these relationships, which include the ideas of
fruitfulness and multiplicity with respect to these meanings, have not been sufficiently considered. This study sheds
light on the ways of constructing such meanings by quoting the sacred narratives of Shin Buddhism and by analyzing
themes and sources of meaning as narrated in the life stories of elderly Jodo Shinshu monks. Semi-structured
interviews were conducted with 10 elderly Jodo Shinshu monks. It was found that themes were represented by three
types of life story: the Doctrinal, I, and Dual stories. Moreover, five sources of meaning were found: educational
relationships with religion throughout their lives, religious relationships with laymen and friends, experience of the
death of persons close to them, experience of life-threatening illness and accidents, and the meaning of their own death.
The results obtained from the interviews are discussed in the context of narrative structure and generativity.
