Studies of Kakuban (覚鑁, 1095–1143) are based on the Kōgyō Daishi zenshū (興教大師全集). However, regarding Kakuban’s representative work, the Gorin kujimyō himitsushaku (五輪九字明秘密釈), a comparison of the Kōgyō Daishi zenshū text with various other sources reveals differences in words and phrases. A comparison of the manuscript and printed editions shows that the following classification can be made: (1) the Hokekyō-ji and Shōmyō-ji texts, (2) the Ninna-ji text and the Buzan Mitsugon shohishaku printed text, (3) the Chisan Mitsugon shohishaku printed text and the Kōgyō Daishi zenshū text, and (4) other manuscripts.
In group (1), the Hokekyō-ji text (copied 1251) and the Shōmyō-ji text (copied 1254) are in agreement in their attached annotations, obverse annotations, verses, and lacunas. They are clearly in the same lineage. In group (2), the Ninna-ji text (copied 1308) and Buzan printed text (published around 1690) are alike in their okurigana and words and phrases. They are chronologically separated, but the two texts are in a close relationship.
For group (3), the Chisan text is a revision of the Buzan text, with corrections in the Chinese word order and illustrations added. The Kōgyō Daishi zenshū text was edited with reference to the words and phrases and illustrations in the Chisan text. The texts in group (4), including the former Kanchi-in text, the Zuishin-in text, the colored Shōmyō-ji text, the Hōki-in text, and others do not belong to groups (1) and (3), and with the exception of the okurigana are close to (2) the Ninna-ji text.
As explained above, the manuscripts of the Gorin kujimyō himitsushaku fall into four groups. From this it will be noted that the Kōgyō Daishi zenshū text does not necessarily transmit the content of all the preceding manuscripts.
