of Wosada,[1] Soga no Mŭmako no Sukune, influenced by his reverence for his deceased father, continued to prize highly the doctrines of Buddha.[2] But the other Ministers had no faith in it, and its institutes had almost perished when the Emperor instructed Mŭmako no Sukune reverently to receive this Law. In the reign of the Empress who ruled the world in the Palace of Woharida,[3] Mŭmako no Sukune, on behalf of the Empress, made an embroidered figure of Buddha sixteen feet high and a copper image of Buddha sixteen feet high. He exalted the doctrine of Buddha and showed honour to its priests and nuns. It is Our desire anew to exalt the pure doctrine and brilliantly to promulgate great principles. We therefore appoint as professors the following ten persons:—The S‘ramana, Pok-nyang, Hyé-un, Syang-an, Nyöng-un, and Hyé-chi, Taihōshi[4] of Koma, and Sōbin, Dōto, Yerin, Yemyō and Yeon, (XXV. 11.) chief priests of temples.[5] We separately appoint the Hōshi, Yemyō, chief priest of the Temple of Kudara.
Let these ten professors well instruct the priests in general in the practice of the teachings of Shaka. It is needful that they be made to comply with the Law. If there is a difficulty about repairing Temples built by any from the Emperor down to the Tomo no Miyakko, We will in all cases assist in doing so. We shall also cause Temple Commissioners and Chief Priests to be appointed, who shall make a circuit to all the temples, and having ascertained the actual facts respecting the priests and nuns, their male and female slaves, and the acreage of their cultivated lands, report all the particulars clearly to us."
Accordingly Kume no Omi, Miwa no Shikobu no Kimi, and Ohi, Nukadabe no Muraji, were appointed Hōtō.[6]
9th month, 1st day. Officials were sent on a mission to all the provinces to regulate the matter of weapons.
One book says:—"From the 6th to the 9th month
- ↑ Bindatsu Tennō.
- ↑ Nō-jin, 能仁, "he who can produce benevolence," i.e. Sakyamuni.
- ↑ Suiko Tennō.
- ↑ A rank in the Buddhist priesthood.
- ↑ I give the last five names the Japanese pronunciation. But some of them may have been Coreans. Some editions make "chief priests of temples" part of the original commentary.
- ↑ i.e. Heads of the Law. See above, XXII. 38.
