晚明清初=late Ming and early Qing dynasties; 黃檗宗=Obaku Zen; 渡日華僧=a Chinese Buddhist master in Japan; Gaoquan Xindun =高泉性潡; 《釋門孝傳》=Biographies of Filial Buddhists; Shakumon kōden=釋門孝傳
Concerning research on the culture of filial piety in the Edo period, scholars have for quite some time focused their discussions on Confucianism. This article attempts to examine the text Shakumon kōden 釋門孝傳 (Biographies of Filial Buddhists, 1666-1688), written by Gaoquan Xindun 高泉性潡 (1633-1695), a Chinese Buddhist master staying in Japan during the late Ming dynasty, and explores the diverse displays of the culture of filial piety in the early Edo era from a new point of view, namely Buddhism. This paper illuminates the underlying intent to defend Buddhism and preach its teachings hidden in the text by examining four aspects: the formation of Gaoquan Xindun's concept of filial piety, the differences between each version of the book, writing techniques, and the influence of the writing on the later works of Buddhists practicing filial piety. This article starts by discussing how Gaoquan Xindun studied the practices of filial piety of ordinary families under the guidance of his teacher Shimo Longmi 時默隆宓 (1589-1671) in Fuzhou during the early development of Obaku Zen Buddhism. This experience was fundamental in forming a consciousness centered on respecting one's teacher, being grateful, and even repaying a kindness, elements which were practiced and transformed into his Buddhist thought on filial piety. This paper continues on to discuss how Gaoquan Xindun, after arriving in Japan and encountering confrontations between Buddhists and Confucians in Edo, acquired experiences such as imitating and penning a continuation of Ming Buddhist monk Lianchi Zhuhong's 蓮池袾宏Zimen chong xing lu 緇門崇行錄 (Exalted Acts of Buddhist Monks) as well as reading Kokan Shiren's 虎關師鍊 (1278-1346), a master of the Gozan 五山 tradition, Genkō shakusho 元亨釋書, and by using these experiences, completed Shakumon kōden, which incorporated both Chinese and Japanese stories of filial piety in an effort to defend the publication against Confucian critics. Gaoquan Xindun also deliberately included several Obaku Zen practices of filial piety, showing he desired to preach Buddhist teachings through these stories. Finally, Shakumon kōden not only provided a paradigm for writing filial piety to both early Edo Buddhists and secularists, but also influenced the possible spread and reading of Zimen chong xing lu within Japan due to the popularity of Shakumon kōden.
