著者

冨永 美香

出版者

東京女子大学

雑誌

東京女子大学紀要論集 (ISSN:04934350)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.50, no.1, pp.67-92, 1999-09

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I am engaged in the study of Japanese literature of the Middle Ages. I am, for example, researching "Soga Shonin." Soga (AD 917〜AD 1003), also called "Tonomine no Shonin," was respected by many people in the Kamakura Period. He was a priest of Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei. Belonging to the Tendai Sect of Buddhism, he studied Hokekyo and Makashikan under Ryogen. He studied there in the early part of his life, but he moved to Tonomine when he was in his thirties. Thereafter, he concentrated on living with strict discipline. I have investigated art connected with Soga. I have verified the picture scroll in his biography titled Soga Shonin Gyogoki Emaki, a poetry and a portrait of him. I have studied his portrait regarding his life and one of his poems Nanzan Koshiki. This portrait belongs to Danzan Jinja while the poem is the property of Yomei Bunko. His portrait has three especially noticeable features. First, it shows him sitting with his head to one side. Second, it shows him sitting at his desk. Third, it shows him reading scrolls with two children. There are eight scrolls on his desk, forming a set of Hokekyo. I think that two children are his servants. When he reads Hokekyo, they come to listen to it. I am reminded of Syoku Shonin and Nichiren Shonin, both of whom are also shown with two people in front of them. Syoku Shonin had two servants. The child painted on the right was named Otsuten, while the child on the left was named Wakaten. Otsuten is a Fudomyoo incarnate, while Wakaten is a Bishamonten incarnate. Nichiren is similarly painted with two persons who respected him. That is similar to that of Syoku Shonin with his two servants. When I read Tonomine Ryakki, written by Jyoin, I found that Soga indeed was permitted to have servants due to his achievements in studying Hokekyo. Therefore, I think this picture is possibly of Soga at this time. There is also a poem titled Nanzan Koshiki, written by Ryue. It is also subtitled Tonomine Sentoku Soga Shonin. It describes Soga as "Jyoshojin Bosatsu" in Hokekyo. I think this is a portrait of a priest well acquainted with Hokekyo. "Soga Shoninzo" and "Nichiren Shoninzo" form a remarkable contrast, one which I name "Kansho no Hoshizo." The Buddhist art and literature in Danzan Jinja were created by Buddhists who respected Soga Shonin in the Middle Ages.