Paired Illustrateds of the Life of Zen Mster Dogen2 Overall view

Paired Illustrateds of the Life of Zen Master Dogen2

This is an illustrated biography of the life of Dōgen (1200-1253), who introduced the Sōtō sect of Zen to Japan. Various biographies of Dōgen have been written since ancient times(1). In the late Edo period (1603-1867), “Teiho Kenzeiki Zue” and “Eihei Heikōso Gyōjōki” (2), biographies with illustrations were published with the aim of making them accessible to the general public plainly. The appearance of these illustrated biographies was closely related to the 550th anniversary of Dōgen’s death (1802). The hanging scrolls of the biography had the advantage of allowing Dōgen to preach his life story in front of a large audience, and played a major role in popularizing the biography among monks and parishioners of the sect.

This document consists of two volumes of exquisitely crafted Gyōjōzu painted in ink on silk. The 1st volume (charts 1 to 23) foremost depicts Dōgen’s genealogy, from his birth in Shōji 2 (1200) to the time he was sealed by his master Ju-ching at Mt. Tiantai in 1227 (Antei 1), and the last night before his return to Japan, when he copied Hekiganshū (Blue Cliff Record) in one night with the help of Hakusan Gongen. The 2nd volume (charts 24-47) depicts his return to Japan accompanied by Shokuhō Shichirou Daigon Shuri Bodhisattva, up to his death in Kenchō 5 (1253). The last scene is Dōgen’s mausoleum (Jōyōden) at Eiheiji Temple.

This document is a Gyōjōzu of Dōgen’s movements that came to Ryūunji Temple (Awara City, Fukui Prefecture) and was donated by a parishioner in Kaei 6 (1853). It is painted by Painter Murai Hidetaka of Kyoto, and crafted by Muroya Kyūbei of Mikuni (Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture), Hyōgushi who crafted the hanging rolls, with exquisite brush strokes on silk.
Illustrated Life of Dogen (Four Materials in One Set) 1

This is one of 4 volumes illustrated biographies of the life and achievements of Dōgen (1200-1253), the founder of the Sōtō sect of Buddhism in Japan.

Various biographies of Dōgen have been written since ancient times, but it was not until the 550th anniversary of Dōgen's death (1802) that illustrated biographies began to be produced. The “Teiho Kenzeiki Zue” and “Eihei Dōgen Zenji Gyōjō Zue” by Zuikō Chingyū (1743-1822) who was a priest of the Sōtō Sect in late Edo period, and others were pioneers in this field, and played a major role in popularizing the biography among priests and parishioners of the sect.

The hanging scrolls of the biography had the advantage of allowing Dōgen to preach his life story in front of a large audience.

The illustrated biography is organized by scroll as follows:

1st volume (charts 1-17): Shōji 2 - Jouō 2 (1200-1223)
The 1st volume depicts the period from his birth to his studying into the Song Dynasty and ascending Mt. Tiantai (depicted from the bottom right).

2nd volume (charts 18-37): Jouō 2 - Antei 1 (1223-1227)
The 2nd volume depicts the achievements at Mt. Tiantai, receiving an approval from his teacher Ju-ching, and returning to Japan (depicted from the upper right).

3rd volume (charts 38-54): Antei 1 - Hōji (1227-1248)
The 3rd volume depicts the voyaging from the Song Dynasty to Japan and returning to Eiheiji Temple from Kamakura at the invitation of Hōjō Tokiyori (depicted from the lower right).

4th volume (charts 55-70): Hōji 2 - Kenchō 5 (1248-1253)
The 4th volume depicts his achievements at Eiheiji Temple in his later years, and his death (depicted from the upper right). The last scene of the biography shows the temple complex of Eiheiji and the Kaizandō Hall (Jōyōden).