Gyōnen Explained

Gyōnen (凝然; 1240–1321) was a Japanese Buddhist monk of the Kegon school who resided at Tōdai-ji Temple in the late Kamakura period. He studied the history of Buddhism in India, China, and Japan, compiling documents on this subject in pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of Japanese Buddhism.^[1]

Biography

Gyōnen, also known as Jikan, was born in Iyokuni (present-day Ehime Prefecture).

He received the Bodhisattva Precepts at Mt. Hiei in 1255.^[2] At the age of 18, he received the novice precepts and was fully ordained by Enshō (1220–1277) at Tōdaiji Temple when he was 20. He studied the teachings of a number of traditions of Buddhism including Sanron and Hossō under various masters around Japan before setting into Tōdaiji, where he remained for most of his life.

Works in English translation

• The essentials of the Vinaya tradition.: the collected teachings of the Tendai Lotus School, translated by Leo M Pruden (1995).^[3]
• The essentials of the eight traditions. Berkeley, Calif.: Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research. OCLC 988575765.^[4]
• Gyōnen's transmission of the Buddha Dharma in three countries. Green, Ronald S.; Mun, Chanju (2018). translated by Ronald S. Green and Chunju Mun.^[5]
• The Risshū-kōyō: an annotated translation, translated by Leo M Pruden, Ph. D. thesis, Harvard University 1969.^[6]
• The origins and development of Pure Land Buddhism: a study and translation of Gyōnen's Jōdo Hōmon Genrushō, translated by Mark Laurence Blum (2004).^[7]

Notes and References

1. Book: Green. Ronald S. Gyōnen's Transmission of the Buddha Dharma in three countries. Mun. Chanju. Gyōnen. 2018. 978-90-04-37045-6. 3–7. 10.1163/9789004370456. English. 1043914042.
2. Web site: 凝然(ぎょうねん)とは. 日本国語大辞典,世界大百科事典内言及. ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典,デジタル大辞泉,百科事典マイペディア,デジタル版 日本人名大辞典+Plus,朝日日本歴史人物事典,世界大百科事典 第２版,大辞林 第三版,日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),367日誕生日大事典,精選版. コトバンク. ja. 2020-02-15.
3. Book: Gyōnen. The essentials of the Vinaya tradition.: the collected teachings of the Tendai Lotus School / by Gishin. Pruden. Leo M. Gishin. 1995. Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research. 978-0-9625618-9-4. Berkeley, Calif.. English. 645624378.
4. Book: 凝然. The essentials of the eight traditions. 最澄. 1994. Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research. Berkeley, Calif.. English. 988575765.
5. Book: Green. Ronald S. [VNV]. Gyōnen's transmission of the Buddha Dharma in three countries. Mun. Chanju [VNV]. 2018. 978-90-04-37038-8. English. 1048747840.
6. The Risshū-kōyō: an annotated translation. 1969. English. Leo M. Pruden. 53009539.
7. Book: Blum. Mark Laurence. The origins and development of Pure Land Buddhism: a study and translation of Gyōnen's Jōdo Hōmon Genrushō. Gyōnen. 2004. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-512524-5. Oxford; New York, N.Y.. English. 57371330.