This paper aims to clarify the relationship between the conversion of Kenji Miyazawa (1896–1933) from Jodo Shinshu (the True Pure Land Sect of Buddhism) to the Lotus Sutra (Hokekyo) and how his educational thoughts were formed by analyzing the process of his separation from the ideology of Haya Akegarasu (1877–1954), a monk of Jodo Shinshu. Previous studies indicate that the educational thoughts of Kenji Miyazawa, a teacher of an agricultural school, were based on his faith. However, it has not been clear how his educational thoughts were influenced by the wanderings of his faith from Jodo Shinshu to the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren-ism. Therefore, this paper first discusses the relationship between Kenji Miyazawa and Haya Akegarasu, who formed a friendship with the Miyazawa family. Then, by reviewing Fukkatsu-no-mae and Souringensou, Kenji Miyazawa's literary works referring to Haya Akegarasu, this paper examined why Kenji was dissatisfied with Jodo Shinshu and felt attracted to the Lotus Sutra and how such processes affected his mindset as a teacher.
Fukkatsu-no-mae was published in spring when Kenji was graduating from Morioka Higher School of Agriculture and Forestry. By analyzing Haya Akegerasu's words quoted in the work, his thoughts were clearly characterized as an acceptance of reality with resignation. Kenji Miyazawa was dissatisfied with such thoughts, which consequently led to his conversion to the Lotus Sutra, which is oriented toward the reformation of reality. Souringensou refers to the Haya Akegarasu's tanka, that is, a short Japanese poem comprising 31 syllables. By examining the revision process and Haya Akegarasu's work, it is suggested that his tanka depicted real life as it was. In contrast, Kenji Miyazawa's literary works were transformed from tanka to free verses in spoken language and fairy tales, which were called Shinshou-sketch (Mental Sketch Modified). He regarded having questions about the structure of the world and how you see the society as an important factor in Shinshou-sketch. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that the transformation of Kenji's faith and literary works was connected to his educational thoughts, with which he entrusted the ideology of the reformation of reality to his students.
|
