The Life and Scholarship of Jiun
Born in the Takamatsu Domain warehouse district on Nakanoshima, Ōsaka, Jiun was the son of Kōzuki Yasunori. Following his father's dying wish, he was tonsured at age 13 at Hōraku-ji in Settsu Province, where he studied Esoteric Buddhism and Sanskrit under the abbot Nin’kō Teiki. His intellectual journey led him to Kyoto at age 16 to study Neo-Confucianism with Itō Tōgai, and later to Nara to study Shingon Buddhism and Shintō. After receiving full ordination in 1738, he became the abbot of Hōraku-ji. He later studied Zen with the Sōtō monk Daibai in Shinano Province. In his later years, he resided at the hermitage Sōryū-an on Mt. Ikoma and later entered Kōkiji in Kanan.
Religious and Literary Contributions
Jiun was a Shingon monk who emphasized the Vinaya and advocated “Shōbōritsu” (True Law Vinaya). He was the founder of Unden Shintō, an original theory of Shintō that interpreted the tradition through the lens of Shingon mandala doctrine. As a scholar, he authored several significant works, including:
In addition to his religious and literary pursuits, Jiun was a distinguished calligrapher and a writer. He was known by several names and styles, including his secular surname Kōzuki, his Buddhist name Onkō, and the honorific Jiun Sonja.
Questions & Answers
Can I browse Jiun's works by color palette?
The By Palettes page groups Jiun's artworks by their color palettes.
How can I see every artwork made by Jiun?
Every work by Jiun on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
How many artworks by Jiun are available to browse?
You can browse 2 artworks by Jiun on the All Artworks page.
What are the birthplace and birth year of Jiun?
Jiun was born in Kyoto in 1718.
![For A Hundred Years [i Have Been] A Person With No Attachments — Jiun](/media/artworks/images-thumb/da/71/da7160a5ef48eb4669b6fda75bd0e093.jpg)
