The Emergence and Recession of Pure Land: The Changes of the Views of Otherworlds from Ancient Japan to Early Modern Period

• Main Authors: Chih-yao Hsu, 許智堯
• Other Authors: Tatsuya Akae
• Format: Others
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/67143934266514628320

碩士 === 國立高雄第一科技大學 === 應用日語研究所 === 100 === This thesis aims to demonstrate the changes of Japanese views on the otherworlds through the related works from ancient Japan to the early modern period. The works intended for the analysis in this thesis are chosen based on the consideration of the narrator and the audience. As to the framework of the theory, Satoo Hiroo(2008) is taken as the main reference. According to Satoo, the relations of the world and the otherworlds can be categorized into: in ancient times, unitary, in the middle ages, dual, and in the early modern period, unitary. Combined with the concept of the concreteness of the otherworld’s image proposed by Daitou Syunichi(2009), Satoo’s statement, the changing process of connection between the world and the otherworlds could be interpreted as consecutive, separated, and rejoined. To examine this hypothesis, this thesis analyzes the written works from the following four aspects: space, subject, communication, and Buddhism. Besides, unlike the otherworlds which are discussed merely as a whole concept in the previous studies, this thesis tries to see separately from the positive and negative otherworlds, as the Pureland and the Hell, in order to map out the thorough landscape. First, from the late ancient times to the early middle ages, the concept of Pureland emerged, so the otherworlds, Pureland and Hell, separated from the world. The positive otherworlds in ancient times such as the mountain and the sky were part of the world, but they turned out to be a second dimensional space with high concreteness, known as the Pureland. On the other hand, the negative otherworld Yomi turned out to be the Hell, also a second dimensional space where people could only travel to through the dreams. Secondly, however, from the late middle ages to the early modern period, the concept of the Pureland had waned. The hope to go to the Pureland after death was not much stated compared to the early middle ages. Also, “becoming Buddha,” meaning the soul resting in peace, was frequently used. The concept to the Pureland was growing abstract. On the other hand, in the early modern period, the Hell’s image remained vivid owing to the spread of preaching and the ironic works. In this thesis, the abstraction of the Pureland and the diversity of the Hell are referred to as the dispersion of the otherworlds. Finally, in conclusion, the relation between the otherworld and the world is in ancient times, consecutive, in the middle ages, separated, and in the early modern period, dispersed. As to the change on the last stage, it is different from the argument of Satoo(2008). Also, the historical changes of the concreteness of the otherworlds’ images shall explain why nowadays the image of “the heaven” is abstract, but the “hell” is vivid. This thesis has examined the historical changes of the views on the otherworlds through the belief in the Pureland. Nonetheless, the mountain, which is highly concerned with the study of the otherworlds, has not surveyed thoroughly due to the information available. The space of mountain, the beliefs in mountain, and so on, is left for the future studies