著者

日高 洋子 Yoko HIDAKA

出版者

埼玉学園大学

雑誌

埼玉学園大学紀要. 人間学部篇 = Bulletin of Saitama Gakuen University. Faculty of Humanities (ISSN:13470515)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.9, pp.145-158, 2009-12-01

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Ninsho was a Buddhist monk in the 13th century in Japan, who supported the poor and the invalid, with his comrades, without reward. There have been general observations by critics that the activity was only utilitarian strategies to expand his religious sect called Shingon-Ritsu-syu, being in the close relationship with Hojo-shi. However, in this paper, I will argue the practice by Ninsho from a different perspective that he would go further to create a field of welfare. His activities transcended both fields of politics and the economy of his time. Ninsho challenged the way of missions by Eison who was his master. His work seems to surpass even the religious concept, namely, Bosatsugyo - Kanjin based Muen. Kanjin based Muen could be described as promotion which led his activity to `the field of cultivation', where human beings would be. This is the characteristic of his practice, that is to say, it could be said that Ninsho had tried to establish the field of welfare. Therefore, it is reasonable and helpful to explore his achievement in order to gain some insight when we review contemporary social welfare subordinate to politics and the economy.