Genbō

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Genbō (玄昉; d. 746) was a Japanese scholar-monk and bureaucrat of the Imperial Court at Nara.[1] He is best known as a leader of the Hossō sect of Buddhism and as the adversary of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu.[2]

Genbō in prayer (NT) (Kōfuku-ji)

Career

In 717–718, Genbō was part of the Japanese mission to Tang China (Kentōshi) along with Kibi no Makibi,[3] Abe no Nakamaro.[4] Later Bodhisena also joined as their companion.[5] Genbō stayed in China for 17 years.[6] Genbō brought many esoteric Buddhist texts with him when he returned to Japan.[7]

At Kōfuku-ji, he was appointed abbot (sōjō)[8] by Emperor Shōmu.[1]

Timeline

  • 740 (Tenpyō 12): Hirotsugu petitioned for the removal of Genbō; and then Kibi no Makibi and Genbō used this complaint as a pretext to discredit Hirotsugu.[9] As a result, Hirotsugu initiates a futile military campaign in the 9th month of the same year.
  • 745 (Tenpyō 17): Genbō was exiled to Dazaifu on the island of Kyushu.[10]

At the time of Genbō's death, it was popularly believed that he was killed by the vengeful spirit of Hirotsugu.[11]

See also

Notes

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI