Sangyo Gisho
Encyclopedia
The , literally "Annotated Commentaries on the Three Sutras," is the title of three annotated commentaries on important Buddhist sutra
s: , , and .
; four volumes in length. It is based on the annotated text Fahuayiji (法華義記) by Liang Dynasty
priest Fayun (法雲, 467-529). Approximately 70% of the contents are identical.
According to tradition, the Hokke Gisho was composed in 615 and is the oldest Japanese text
. Records indicate that the manuscript was discovered by Gyōshin (行信), the monk who erected the Hōryū-ji
Tō-in, and the manuscript was kept at this temple for centuries until 1878 when it was presented to the emperor
as a gift.
; one volume in length. It is based on annotated texts of Liang Dynasty
priest Min (旻, 467-527). Traditionally said to have been completed in 611.
; three volumes in length. It is based on annotated texts of the Liang Dynasty
priest Zhizang (458-522). Traditionally said to have been completed in 613.
and is not from overseas." However, the brush style is different from the main text and is believed to have been later added by the priest Gyōshin.
The Nihon Shoki
records that in 606, Shōtoku Taishi taught the Srimala and Lotus sutras, hence the believe that he authored all three.
Only the Hokke Gisho remains in original manuscript form, while the Shōmangyō Gisho and Yuimagyō Gisho exist only from later copies.
The oldest text to attribute the Sangyōsho to Shōtoku Taishi is the 747 . In addition, sutra records found in the Shōsōin
documents credit King Kamitsumiya, one of Shōtoku Taishi's titles, for the annotated Lotus and Srimala sutras.
While historical records attribute these works to Shōtoku Taishi, a number of issues and problems have been pointed out.
The precise development of these texts is strongly argued in modern scholarship with many alternative hypotheses. These include:
There is no academic consensus on the true authorship. If authorship is assigned to Shōtoku Taishi, then the works would need to have been completed before 622 when he died.
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
s: , , and .
Hokke Gisho
An annotated commentary on the Lotus SutraLotus Sutra
The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
; four volumes in length. It is based on the annotated text Fahuayiji (法華義記) by Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
priest Fayun (法雲, 467-529). Approximately 70% of the contents are identical.
According to tradition, the Hokke Gisho was composed in 615 and is the oldest Japanese text
Japanese literature
Early works of Japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature, often written in Classical Chinese. Indian literature also had an influence through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan...
. Records indicate that the manuscript was discovered by Gyōshin (行信), the monk who erected the Hōryū-ji
Hōryū-ji
is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji , or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving as seminary and monastery both....
Tō-in, and the manuscript was kept at this temple for centuries until 1878 when it was presented to the emperor
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
as a gift.
Shōmangyō Gisho
An annotated commentary on the Srimala SutraSrimala Sutra
The Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra is one of the main early Mahāyāna Buddhist texts that teaches the doctrines of Tathāgatagarbha and the One Vehicle , through the words of the Indian queen Śrīmālā...
; one volume in length. It is based on annotated texts of Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
priest Min (旻, 467-527). Traditionally said to have been completed in 611.
Yuimagyō Gisho
An annotated commentary on the Vimalakirti SutraVimalakirti Sutra
The Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra , or Vimalakīrti Sūtra, is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra. Among other subjects, the sutra teaches the meaning of nonduality...
; three volumes in length. It is based on annotated texts of the Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
priest Zhizang (458-522). Traditionally said to have been completed in 613.
Authorship
Although traditionally attributed to the legendary Shōtoku Taishi, current scholarly consensus disputes this and the actual authorship of the texts are unknown. The Hokke Gisho contains a note stating, "This book belongs to the private collection of King JōgūPrince Shotoku
, also known as or , was a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko. He was a son of Emperor Yōmei and his younger half-sister Princess Anahobe no Hashihito. His parents were relatives of the ruling Soga clan, and was involved in the defeat...
and is not from overseas." However, the brush style is different from the main text and is believed to have been later added by the priest Gyōshin.
The Nihon Shoki
Nihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
records that in 606, Shōtoku Taishi taught the Srimala and Lotus sutras, hence the believe that he authored all three.
On the seventh month of autumn, the empressEmpress Suikowas the 33rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Suiko's reign spanned the years from 593 until her death in 628....
summoned Hitsugi no MikoPrince Shotoku, also known as or , was a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko. He was a son of Emperor Yōmei and his younger half-sister Princess Anahobe no Hashihito. His parents were relatives of the ruling Soga clan, and was involved in the defeat...
and commanded him to teach the Srimala SutraSrimala SutraThe Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra is one of the main early Mahāyāna Buddhist texts that teaches the doctrines of Tathāgatagarbha and the One Vehicle , through the words of the Indian queen Śrīmālā...
. He finished in three days. This year, Hitsugi no Miko next taught the Lotus SutraLotus SutraThe Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
at Okamoto Palace. The empress was most pleased and presented Hitsugi no Miko with Tamomo Tokoro in Harima ProvinceHarima Provinceor Banshu was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is the southwestern part of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture. Harima bordered on Tajima, Tamba, Settsu, Bizen, and Mimasaka Provinces. Its capital was Himeji....
.
Only the Hokke Gisho remains in original manuscript form, while the Shōmangyō Gisho and Yuimagyō Gisho exist only from later copies.
The oldest text to attribute the Sangyōsho to Shōtoku Taishi is the 747 . In addition, sutra records found in the Shōsōin
Shosoin
The is the treasure house that belongs to Tōdai-ji, Nara The building is in the azekura log-cabin style, with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Daibutsuden...
documents credit King Kamitsumiya, one of Shōtoku Taishi's titles, for the annotated Lotus and Srimala sutras.
While historical records attribute these works to Shōtoku Taishi, a number of issues and problems have been pointed out.
- The oldest records are all more than a hundred years after the death of Shōtoku Taishi, so they are unreliable.
- Inoue Mitsusada of the University of TōkyōUniversity of Tokyo, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
says that many texts originally attributed to rulers were actually written by groups of scholars and suggests that this is the case here as well. However, Hokke Gisho uses a number of personal pronouns weakening this argument. - Calligrapher Nishikawa Yasushi studied the glyph forms used in the original with those in China and concludes that Hokke Gisho is a work corresponding to the Sui DynastySui DynastyThe Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
(581-618). Inoue builds on this suggesting that it is a work of Japan's Asuka periodAsuka periodThe , was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 , although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period...
.
The precise development of these texts is strongly argued in modern scholarship with many alternative hypotheses. These include:
- Based on Chinese texts brought to Japan which Shōtoku Taishi used as a basis for composition.
- Korean priests visiting Japan wrote it under Shōtoku Taishi's instructions.
- Produced in China or Korea and authorship was transferred to Shōtoku Taishi when it arrived in Japan.
- A later work
There is no academic consensus on the true authorship. If authorship is assigned to Shōtoku Taishi, then the works would need to have been completed before 622 when he died.