This paper is one of posthumous manuscripts of the late Reverend Daishin Shimamura, Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies. Although the manuscript of this study seems to be almost complete but not thoroughly examined. it was appreciated to have highly academic value so as to be published by the editorial board. The manuscript is so voluminous that it is divided into several parts to be continuously or intermittently published on this journal.] The Jīn-gāng-bēi (金剛錍) was written by Zhàn-rán (湛然, Tan-nen, 711-782), the great scholarly master of Tiān-tái sect (天台宗) in the Táng period, who wrote commentaries on three masterpieces of Zhi-yi (智顗) and other his own treatises. The title of the work means “Diamond (金剛) Scalpel (錍)” in order to cut ignorance, and its main topic is the capability of becoming Buddha (仏性) or that of accomplishing enlightenment. It is a well-known assertion unique to the work that the capability of becoming Buddha is inherent in all beings, not only living beings but even inanimate objects. In this paper, the late Rev. Shimamura translated the text of the Jīn-gāng-bēi (included in the 46th volume of Taishō-shinshū-daizōkyō edition) from classical Chinese into modern Japanese, and annotated it with detailed explanations in appropriate places. In this issue (No. 45), the first part (from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2 (1) ② iii 2, in synopsis) of his study is published. [The responsibility for the wording lies with the editor.
