In medieval Japan, the development of Shingon Buddhist monastic communities in regional society greatly depended on communication and religious support from centrally located Shingon monasteries such as Daigoji. However, little is known about associations or competitions among regional Shingon temples. This article focuses on Shingon Buddhist temples in Echizen Province, an important area in which Daigoji monks, such as Ryūgen and Genga, were active in transmitting the minutia of ritual practices. By analyzing documents and sacred teachings related to Takidanji, a Shingon Buddhist temple located in Mikuni Port, its disciple temples, and other Shingon Buddhist temples in the region, this article clarifies the interplay of these institutions in the late medieval period. The article argues that the features of Shingon Buddhist monastic communities in medieval Echizen were multipolar, consisting of Takidanji, Shōkaiji, and Sōjiji. The connection with Daigoji monks, in fact, brought about rivalry among these regional temples.
目次
Authority and Competition 103 Socioeconomic and Religious Environment of Shingon Monastic Communities in Echizen Province 105 Production of Sacred Teachings and the Foundation of Takidanji in the Fourteenth Century 107 Takidanji’s Disciple Temples in the Fifteenth Century 110 Changes at Takidanji and its Disciple Temples in the Sixteenth Century 112 Friction between Takidanji and Other Shingon Temples 115 Support and protection from the asakura and daigoji 118 Conclusion 119 References 121
