Virtual Okitama 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Daiko-in Temple

 

     Tradition says that Daiko-in Temple was founded by Priest Shinzei (800-860), who was one of Kukai's top 10 apprentices, either in 844 or 859 along Inu River in Okitama County, Dewa Province, which was pronounced Ideha in those days.

     Shinzei devoted himself to Confucianism and writing in his childhood.

     In 814, at the age of 15, he left home and became a disciple of Kukai (774-835).

     In 824, at the age of 25, he became an Acharya.  Shinzei received the Dharma at an unusually young age because he was recognized for his talent by Kukai.  Shinzei's success surprised people at the time.

     From 824 to 835, he secluded himself at Jingo-ji Temple in Mount Takao and practiced asceticism for 12 years.

     From November, 826, to May of the following year and from November, 830, to March ,832, Kukai taught Shinzei various secrets of esoteric Buddhism.  Later, Shinzei recorded Kukai's teachings in the Takao Kuketsu, the Secrets Taught by Word of Mouth in Takao.

     Around 835, Emperor Saga (786-842) recognized Shinzei's ascetic practices for 12 years and selected him as one of the 10 Chamberlain Buddhist Priests.

     By around 835, he had compiled the Henjo Hokki Shoryo Shu, namely the Collection of Enlightening and Effecting Spirits, which is the collection of Kukai's Chinese poems, including those Kukai exchanged with others while he was in Tang China.

     In 836, Shinzei tried to enter Tang China to study as a Buddhist monk on an envoy ship.  However, their ship was wrecked by a storm, and they moved onto a raft and drifted for 23 days.  All the other passengers starved to death, and only Shinzei and another monk, Shinzen (?-891), miraculously survived and were rescued by the people of an island, whose exact location is unknown.  After returning to Japan, he devoted himself to the management of Jingo-ji Temple.

     In December, 840, he was appointed the head priest of Jingo-ji Temple in place of Priest Jichie (786-847).

     In November, 843, he was appointed Gon-risshi. That means he became a member of the Japanese Buddhist clergy.  He also became the second highest priest of To-ji Temple.

     After Buddhism became the established state religion in the 8th century, the Imperial Court gave titles to high ranking Buddhist priests:

The first rank, sojo, consists of three levels:

Dai-sojo

Sojo

Gon-sojo

The second rank, sozu, has four levels:

Dai-sozu

Gon-dai-sozu

Sho-sozu

Gon-sho-sozu

The third rank, risshi, contains three levels:

Dai-risshi

Chu-risshi

Gon-risshi

     In April, 847, he was appointed Risshi. In November, he succeeded Priest Jichie as the chief priest of To-ji Temple.

     In July, 851, he was appointed as Sho-sozu.  He was trusted by Emperor Montoku (827-858) and was rapidly promoted.  His rapid promotion might have inspired jealousy in other priests.

     In April, 853, the Shingon Sect was permitted to ordain 3 more priests, bringing the total number to six.  The additional 3 priests were allocated to Jingo-ji Temple.  Under the religion policy of the Imperial Court, the number of ordinations were limited and the increase was unprecedented.

     In October, 853, he was appointed Gon-dai-sozu.

     In October, 856, he was appointed to Sojo, but declined the appointment, saying that he would exceed the title of his master, Kukai.  Since then, he was appointed and declined 3 times.

     In October, 857, Emperor Montoku was moved by Shinzei's compassion for his master and conferred the posthumous rank of Dai-sojo to Kukai, appointing Shinzei Sojo.

     On August 23rd, 858, Emperor Montoku suddenly fell ill.  Shinzei's prayer for the emperor's recovery was in vain, and he passed away on the 27th at the age of 32.  Due to the sudden death of the Emperor, Shinzei faced intense criticism and retired.

     He passed away on February 25th, 860, at the age of 61.

     Where did he die?  According to tradition, he died in Daiko-in Temple.  He could have been practically exiled.  According to Priest Shinga (801-879), who was a brother of Kukai, and who was one of Kukai's top 10 apprentices, Shinzei had no apprentice.  That is just unbelievable.  As we can find a scattering of information about his apprentices, even Shinzei's master-pupil relationship could have been faked.

     The Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku's entry dated February 25th, 860, mentioned Shinzen as Shinzei's apprentice.  The Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku, literally the True Record of Three Reigns of Japan, is a history text which covers the years 858-887, and whose compilation was completed in 901.

     According to the Shoku Nihon Koki, whose compilation was finished in 869, and which covered the years 833–850, and Shinpen Sanzu Honcho Sonpi Bunmyaku Keifu Zatsurui Yoshu, or shortly Sonpi Bunmyaku, which was compiled by Tokin Kinsada (1340-1399) from 1377 to 1395, Hakuun was Shinzei's apprentice.

     Hoko was mentioned as Shinzei's apprentice in a document kept by To-ji Temple.

     Eun (798-869) was mentioned as Shinzei's apprentice in the Gunsho Ruiju, or Books Grouped according to Genre, which is a collection of old Japanese books on Japanese literature and history, and which was compiled by Hanawa Hokiichi (1746-1821), who was a blind scholar of Japanese philology and philosophy.

Address: 2948 Kamikomatsu, Kawanishi, Higashiokitama District, Yamagata 999-0121

Phone: 0238-42-2666

Jingo-ji Temple

Address: 5 Umegahata Takaocho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8292

Phone: 075-861-1769

To-ji Temple

Address: 1 Kujocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, 601-8473

Phone: 075-691-3325