Title: Ojoyoshu (Essentials of Rebirth), Circa 1869-1900. A Handwritten Copy of Genshin’s Texts on the Buddhist Realms of the Afterlife
Author: Genshin, Copied by Fujiwara no Fukunari(?)
Condition: Very Good
A Meiji Period, late 19th century manuscript edition of the Ojoyoshu, or, The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land, a Buddhist trilogy of texts written by the Japanese monk Genshin, who lived during the tail end of the Heian era. It was considered his most well received work, for the extremely brutal detailing of Hell and the afterlife, and was published several times throughout the centuries, including this Kaei Era edition.
This manuscript copy is incomplete, as portions of books two and three are lacking.
First written in 985, the Buddhist work compiles important passages on rebirth in paradise from numerous Buddhist scriptures and treatises from the perspective of Pure Land Buddhism, consisting of three volumes. It teaches that the only way to attain rebirth in paradise after death is to single-mindedly remember Buddha and chant the Nembutsu, thereby laying the foundation for Pure Land Buddhism. Furthermore, the concepts of hell and paradise, and the spirit of aversion to the impure world and desire for the pure land, which were taught in this work, became popular among both aristocrats and commoners, and had a profound influence on later literary thought. Many sections are devoted to the difficult practice of contemplating one's own body through meditation and using this as a medium to contemplate Amida Buddha as a physical body, known as Kanso-Nenbutsu.
Three parts bound into one volume in 12mo (16.5 x 14.2 cm), 87 leaves, some blank leaves at the end.
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minor wear and dogeared corners to the covers. There is scattered staining to several leaves.