Shintoshu
Encyclopedia
The is a Japanese story book in ten volumes believed to date from the Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392). It illustrates with tales about various shrines the Buddhist
honji suijaku
theory, according to which Japanese kami
were simply local manifestations of the Indian gods of Buddhism
. This theory, created and developed mostly by Tendai
monks, was never systematized, but was nonetheless very pervasive and very influential. The book had thereafter great influence over literature and the arts.
or the Enbun
era. It carries the note but who exactly wrote it is unclear. Divided in ten volumes and 50 chapters, it supports the Tendai and Ise Shinto honji suijaku
theory according to which Japanese kami
were simply local manifestations of the Indian gods of Buddhism
. This theory was never systematized, but became nonetheless the most important tool through which foreign Buddhism was reconciled with local kami beliefs. The book illustrates it through tales dedicated to various shrines and to the Buddhist gods which are the true nature of the kami they enshrine. It deals mostly with shrines located west of Tonegawa
in Kōzuke province
(like Akagi Daimyōjin, Ikaho Daimyōjin and Komochiyama Daimyōjin ), the Kumano Sanzan and other Kantō shrines, explaining the reason for their kami's reincarnation, and telling tales about their previous lives.
The common point of the tales is that, before reincarnating as tutelary kami of an area, a soul has first to be born and suffer there as a human being. The suffering is mostly caused by relationships with relatives, especially wives or husbands.
The book had a great impact on the literature and arts of the following centuries.
Buddhism in Japan
The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the Nara period , the Heian period and the post-Heian period . Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools...
honji suijaku
Honji suijaku
The term in Japanese religious terminology refers to a theory widely accepted until the Meiji period according to which Indian Buddhist deities choose to appear in Japan as native kami in order to more easily convert and save the Japanese...
theory, according to which Japanese kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
were simply local manifestations of the Indian gods of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. This theory, created and developed mostly by Tendai
Tendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
monks, was never systematized, but was nonetheless very pervasive and very influential. The book had thereafter great influence over literature and the arts.
History
The book is believed to have been written during the late Nanboku-chō period, either during the BunnaBunna
, also romanized as Bunwa, was a Japanese era name of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kannō and before Enbun. This period spanned the years from September 1352 through March 1356. The emperor in Kyoto was...
or the Enbun
Enbun
, also known as Embun, was a Japanese era name of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Bunna and before Kōan. This period spanned the years from March 1356 through March 1361; The emperor in Kyoto was...
era. It carries the note but who exactly wrote it is unclear. Divided in ten volumes and 50 chapters, it supports the Tendai and Ise Shinto honji suijaku
Honji suijaku
The term in Japanese religious terminology refers to a theory widely accepted until the Meiji period according to which Indian Buddhist deities choose to appear in Japan as native kami in order to more easily convert and save the Japanese...
theory according to which Japanese kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
were simply local manifestations of the Indian gods of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. This theory was never systematized, but became nonetheless the most important tool through which foreign Buddhism was reconciled with local kami beliefs. The book illustrates it through tales dedicated to various shrines and to the Buddhist gods which are the true nature of the kami they enshrine. It deals mostly with shrines located west of Tonegawa
Tonegawa
Tonegawa may refer to:* Battle of Tonegawa, a Japanese battle* Susumu Tonegawa , Japanese scientist* Tone River, a river in the Kantō region of Japan...
in Kōzuke province
Kozuke Province
was an old province located in the Tōsandō of Japan, which today comprises Gunma Prefecture. It is nicknamed as or .The ancient provincial capital was near modern Maebashi. During the Sengoku period, Kōzuke was controlled variously by Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin, the late Hōjō clan, and...
(like Akagi Daimyōjin, Ikaho Daimyōjin and Komochiyama Daimyōjin ), the Kumano Sanzan and other Kantō shrines, explaining the reason for their kami's reincarnation, and telling tales about their previous lives.
The common point of the tales is that, before reincarnating as tutelary kami of an area, a soul has first to be born and suffer there as a human being. The suffering is mostly caused by relationships with relatives, especially wives or husbands.
The book had a great impact on the literature and arts of the following centuries.