Article
Shinran as Global Philosopher
Religions
(2022)
Abstract
Gutoku Shinran 愚禿親鸞 (1173–1263) is one of Japan’s most creative and influential thinkers.Heisthe(posthumous)founderofwhatultimatelybecameJo ̄doShinshu ̄,betterknown today as Shin Buddhism, the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in Japan. Despite this, his work has not received the global attention of other historical Japanese philosophical figures such as Ku ̄kai 空海 (774–835) or Do ̄gen 道元 (1200–1253). The relationships of influence between Shin Buddhism in general—or Shinran’s work more specifically—and earlier Chinese sources, especially non-Buddhist sources, are complex, rarely examined in much detail, and often buried under layers of interpretive difficulties, made all the more challenging for contemporary Anglophone scholars by the ways in which Shin Buddhism has been marginalized in much of the philosophical scholarship on East Asian traditions. Exploring his work through a lens of connection to the broader Chinese philosophical landscape reveals new insights, both for our understanding of Shinran’s philosophical project, and for contemporary comparative engagement across East Asian traditions, helping to resituate Shinran as a globally significant philosopher. Special Issue is available here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions/special_issues/Sino_JapRel
Keywords
- Shinran,
- comparative philosophy,
- hermeneutics
Disciplines
Publication Date
Winter January 21, 2022
DOI
https://doi.org/ 10.3390/rel13020105
Citation Information
Sarah Mattice. "Shinran as Global Philosopher" Religions Vol. 13 Iss. 105 (2022) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sarah-mattice/36/