Some Significant Indian Philosophical Concepts in the Uji Shūi Monogatari, Interpreted from the Mahayanic Perspective of Japanese Buddhists

Abstract

The establishment of Buddhism as a major religion in medieval Japan led to the assimilation of different Indian customs and beliefs that were introduced as part of Buddhist traditions. Some of the major theories of Indian philosophical thought would become widely accepted by Japanese society, in parallel with the adoption of the Buddhist beliefs that was taking place at that time. These ideas would come to underpin how the Japanese saw the world, in such a way that they would be reflected in numerous ancient accounts of classical literature. This work analyzes some key concepts of Indian philosophy in the Uji Shūi Monogatari, a medieval Japanese collection that suggests their interpretation in the Kamakura period. The exaltation of the Mahāyāna portrayed in this text reveals the fears and hopes instilled by the catechism of Japanese Buddhist monks at that time.