Buddhist Priest Zenju

[Ross Bender]

The Nihon Kōki obituary of the Chief Abbot Zenju  僧正善珠 mentions a rumor that he was the illegitimate son of Genbō and the Retired Empress Miyako. Nihon Ryōiki does not seem to include this story, but it does have the very unusual account of a diviner who, near the priest's death, pronounces that he will be reborn in the womb of Emperor Kanmu's wife as a prince. The next year, says the account, he was indeed reborn as a prince.

[See Nihon Kōki  Enryaku 16.4.21 (May 21, 797)  and  Nihon Ryōiki tr. Nakamura (284-5); or tr. Watson (198-9).]

The reason I'm interested in this account is because of the story that the priest Dōkyō  was the lover of Female Emperor Shotoku. However, in that case the tale is not recorded in the official chronicle, Shoku Nihongi, but it does first appear in Nihon Ryōiki.

My question is whether any Buddhist scholars can further trace the strange accounts of Zenju's life, particularly the Genbō story. Also, are there similar miraculous accounts of eminent Buddhist priests having such unusual births or rebirths as imperial princes?

Ross Bender

The Japanese Imperial Institution in the Eighth Century - Kindle edition by Bender, Ross. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.