ブックタイトルRILAS 早稲田大学総合人文科学研究センター研究誌

概要

RILAS 早稲田大学総合人文科学研究センター研究誌

WASEDA RILAS JOURNAL NO. 3 (2015. 10)日本仏教以前の仏教日本仏教以前の仏教新川登亀男“Buddhism”before Japanese BuddhismTokio SHINKAWAAbstractIn this writing, I examine how Buddhism has prevailed in the Japanese Archipelago.Around AD 700, the establishment of the Japanese nation was begun under the ritsury? (律令制). Inthis government structure, the Emperor of Japan, who is called Tenno (天皇), became the head of government. At the same time, this government secularized many Buddhist priests who came from Paekche,Kogury?, and Silla, because they had some artistic knowledge and skills. These arts are very different fromthe arts of today. In those days, astronomy, yin-yang, calendar making, and divination were the leading arts.The Japanese government feared that these priests would undermine the authority of government becausethey might fascinate the masses of Japan with their specific arts. In addition, those masses might study thesearts spontaneously, and try to become Buddhist priests. Traditionally, the political authorities of Asiancountries hardly regulated the religious activities of Buddhist priests, so that a charismatic Buddhist leadercould emerge from the masses. The Japanese government considered that such a charismatic leader wouldsubvert the authority of Tenno.Through the secularization, the Japanese government tried to bureaucratize the former Buddhist priests.Their arts were subdivided into many departments of Japanese government where they were appointed astechnocrats.On the other hand, the next generation of Buddhist priests were permanently stationed at governmentownedtemples, and required to pledge allegiance to Tenno. Through this process, the formal Buddhistpractice called Jyougyou (浄行) was changed to a specifically Japanese style.Jyougyou was reinterpreted as the devotion to Tenno and the Japanese nation, and as the doctrine ofJapanese nobles and government officers. As a result, Buddhism was integrated into the ritsury?. This reformationis regarded as the foundation of Japanese Buddhism.はじめに「日本仏教以前の仏教」とは、奇妙な題目だと思われるに違いない。しかし、このような命題には理由がある。なぜなら、日本仏教がはじめて自覚的に構想されるようになった段階の仏教とはどのようなものであったのか。また、なぜ、そのような構想に至ったのか。それ以前の仏教とどのような関係にあるのかを考えてみようとしたからである。したがって、本報告では、「日本仏教以前の仏教」という題目そのものを説明することになるであろう。1.特異な還俗と「芸術」日本史上、相次いで僧を還俗させる特殊な時期が存在する。それは、7世紀末から8世紀初にかけての時期である。307