Kōzōin Nisshin 広蔵院日辰 (1508–1576), a learned priest who flourished in Kyoto during the Sengoku Period, wrote many books, as well as transcribing and collecting classical books across a broad range of fields. Among them, this article covers a yet-to-be-published book called Hokkeron ryakutaiko 法華論略大綱, which is in the possession of the Yōbōji 要法寺 in Kyoto. Nisshin selected and recorded teachings of Buddhism that he recognized as important, referring to the Hokkeron kachu 法華論科註 by his former master, Jofukyōin Nichishin 常不軽院日真 (1444–1528), compiling them into the book under discussion in January 1546. The Hokkeron kachu in its turn used the Hokkeron ki 法華論記 by Enchin 円珍 (814–891) as a reference, and therefore, in principle, the Hokkeron ryakutaiko also follows that basic approach. However, it includes not only excerpts from the Hokkeron kachu but also to a considerable extent Nisshin’s unique comments on the Hokkeron 法華論 and Hokkeron ki. Thus, the Hokkeron ryakutaiko contains many elements that can be regarded as unique to Nisshin. This article considers aspects of Nisshin’s reception of the Hokkeron using such characteristic elements as clues.
