Harima no kuni Shoshazan engi, also known as Banshu Shoshazan engi,is an emaki, which means narrative picture scroll, in Edo Japan. It describes Shoku (910-1007), a Tendai master in Heian period, from his birth to his journey to Harima area, especially how he constructed the temple Engyo-ji. In this emaki, Emperor Kazan (968-1008) and master Shoku’s personal contact was highlighted, and the written scripture of Sutra of Lotus was also regarded as an important part in the narrative. Later, Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-1192) visited Shoshazan after Shoku’s death. Shoshazan once again became a religious spot at the time. Biography of Shoku can be found in different texts, and various strategies of narrative can be observed as well. Also, as for the miracle about Shoku’s birth, it can be compared with many different birth tales in East Asian biographies of monks. This article will be focused on Harima no kuni Shoshazan engi, through comparative methods to other biographies of monks in medieval China, to take a closer look at the possible influence from narrative of biographies of Chinese Buddhism on this emaki.
