近世初期日本禪僧南浦文之（1554－1620）詩文集中的東亞圖像與個人生活=The East Asian Imagery and Life in the Collected Poetry of the Early Modern Japanese Zen Monk Nanpo Bunshi (1554-1620)
Nanpo Bunshi 南浦文之 (1554-1620) was a fourth-generation disciple of Keian Genju 桂庵玄樹 (1427-1508), who studied Confucianism and Zen Buddhism under Ichiō Genshin 一翁玄心 (1507-1592). Further, he studied the Book of Changes and other classics under Kō Yūken 黃友賢, an immigrant from China. His mastery of textual research made him an iconic figure of the Satsunan 薩南 school. Scholars tend to focus on Nanpo's identity as a scholar-monk (gakumonsō) in the Rinzai lineage of Zen Buddhism. However, his life as a Zen monk has received surprisingly little scholarly attention. As a scholar-monk, Nanpo's kunten annotations of Chinese texts demonstrate intellectual influences from the Neo-Confucian new exegetical tradition. This, along with his emphasis on the unity of Zen and Confucianism and his stress on the concept of practice as a form of teaching are intellectual hallmarks of Zen-Confucianism and the Satsunan School. In addition, his article on the introduction of the matchlock gun (hinawajū) into Japan, as well as his proficiency in diplomacy and mediation during the invasion of Ryūkyū by the domain of Satsuma, epitomized scholar-monks who occupied a pivotal role in East Asian exchange history for they mastered two knowledge carriers and ideological interfaces: Buddhism and Chinese language. Relying on the foundations of previous scholarship, this study undertakes a comparative analysis of the different editions of the Nanpo Anthology, along with related literature such as Songs of Boatmen and Witty Stories. The analysis reveals critical distinctions among these different editions, which in turn enhance our understanding of Nanpo's life experiences amid worldly engagement and transcendental practice. Generally speaking, the printed edition of the Nanpo Anthology focuses on his official career, literary work, and discussions on Confucianism, representing the dominant image of Nanpo held among scholars today. By contrast, the handwritten manuscript edition highlights his wistful yearning for religious practice. By collating and analyzing the literature from the Nanpo Anthology, this study not only brings forth the contours of Nanpo's thought, but also contributes to modern Edo studies by further exploring the Buddhist clergy's role as cultural intermediaries and their self-identification asreligious practitioners.
