The Saichō Repository 最澄典藏 Project:
I have decided to attempt to translate the Collected Works of Dengyō Daishi Saichō 傳教大師全集. I say ‘attempt’, not because I have any intention of stopping midway, but merely because I am wise enough to approach the enormous scope of this project, with the humility it deserves. Concretely, I intend to complete translations for all of the 179 works contained in the five volumes of the Dengyō Daishi Zenshū 傳教大師全集. And should time or infirmity interrupt this aim, you all have my word that I will do everything in my power, to ensure that as many of these precious works are made available as is practicable. In either eventuality, this will be the first time that the vast majority of these works has ever been made available in a European language.
This corpus contains not only those works traditionally attributed to Master Saichō 最澄 (767-822 A.D.), but also works by his immediate disciple Kōjō 光定 (779-854 A.D.), records by Jikaku Daishi Ennin 慈覺大師 圓仁 (794-864 A.D.), letters from Master Kōbō Daishi Kūkai 弘法大師 空海 (774-835 A.D.), biographies of Saichō, and documents by, or including the words of, Chinese Tiantai 中國天台宗Masters Langya Heshang Daosui 瑯琊和上 道邃 (生742-756，寂806-820 A.D.) and Gusu Heshang Xingman 姑蘇和上 行滿 (d.u. – 823 A.D).
This collection therefore constitutes not merely a priceless treasure-trove for the founding of the Japanese Tendai School 日本天台宗, but also for Heian Period Buddhism 平安時代佛教, and the state of Chinese Tiantai just prior to the devastating Huichang Persecutions 會昌廢佛 (841-845 A.D.). They therefore deal with some of the most profound ideas transmitted from China to Japan, and the vibrancy of Buddha-Dharma during the Golden Ages of Heian Period Japan, and Tang Dynasty China 大唐國.
The Importance of this Project:
Dengyō Daishi Saichō 傳教大師 最澄 was responsible for the transmission to Japan, of Chinese Tiantai Buddhism 中國天台宗, the Perfect and Sudden Precepts 圓頓戒, Tang Dynasty Esoteric Buddhism 唐密教, and Ox-head Lineage Chan 牛頭禪. For these reasons alone, his efforts had a transformative effect on the Buddhism of the Nara Period 奈良時代佛教, and on Japanese culture more broadly.
But his disciple-descendants would go on to establish the Japanese Tendai School as the dominant Buddhist tradition, throughout the middle ages. And therefore, his ideas went on to influence and cross-pollinate with the other Heian Period Buddhist tradition, of Kūkai‘s 空海 Shingon School 眞言宗. What’s more, the founders of all of the Kamakura Buddhist Schools 鎌倉時代佛教, which later came to predominate the Japanese religious landscape, emerged from this womb of the Tendai School 天台宗之母胎.
His works and the ideas they contain therefore, should be of immense interest and importance, to all Japanese Buddhists.
Though largely unknown to them, the works of Saichō deserve to be of great significance for Chinese Buddhists as well. His writings preserve a great many insights into the pinnacle that was Tang Dynasty Buddhism 唐代佛教, and even his more unique positions, pose important questions regarding the contemporary Chinese debates he was exposed to.
The immense significance of his role in East Asian Buddhist History and Thought, is therefore hard to over-state. And so, the benefit of having his Collected Works available in English would be immeasurable.
Why Me?
It may be justifiably wondered however, why I feel compelled to do this project, and more importantly, why I have the arrogance to even begin it?
The first question is much easier to answer. I feel compelled, because as Master Saichō himself opined:
“Supposing that one does encounter the Teachings of the Buddhas, to personally hear the particulars of the Sublime Dharma, is surely the rarest of rarest [occurrences]! [And yet] now, [I have] encountered the Sublime Dharma of the Lotus Flower Sūtra, and am counted amongst the descendant-disciples of Great Master Zhizhe [Zhiyi].”
設値佛教，親聞妙法事，難中之難也矣! 然，値妙法蓮華經，列智者大師遺弟。
妙法蓮華經出離生死血脈
I feel compelled, because I am ‘lucky’, in the magnitude of epic proportions. And because I feel the very absence of these resources, for my fellow practitioners and scholars, deeply. Therefore, again in the spirit of my Master:
“Out of pity for sentient beings, I write out This Transmission, to be passed down to future disciples.”
悲含識故，注此傳，送後輩矣。
妙法蓮華經出離生死血脈
Now to the second and more important question of my conceit. Truth be told, there are far better linguists than I, and far more accomplished scholars than myself. It is important that this is admitted at the outset. I’m therefore, under no illusions regarding the perfection of my translations, nor of my particular speed in completing them. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons why I am perhaps an appropriate translator in the meantime, until such a one as intimated above, takes up the task.
I took Home-leaving Ordination or Shukke Tokudo 出家得度 under the Late Arch-Bishop Ara Ryokan 大僧正 荒了寛 at the Tendai Hawaii Mission or Tendai Hawaii Betsuin 天台ハワイ別院 in Honolulu (2012). Following this I trained and studied the Tiantai/Tendai tradition under his direction, until I was able to attend and complete the Seminary Training Programme on Mount Hiei 比叡山延暦寺 known as Gyōin 行院, in 2015. On completing Gyōin, I relocated to Tōkyō, where I worked and taught at the Tendai High School of Komagome Gakuen 駒込学園 for five years. During this time, I assisted at numerous temples, participated in seminars on behalf of Tendai Shu, and translated various materials into English. Most importantly, I was able to further study Tiantai/Tendai texts with reputable Tendai masters and scholars, and thereby continue developing my skills in the reading and translation of Classical Chinese Buddhist materials.
I also hold a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Research Degree from Macquarie University in Chinese Studies, and my thesis may be accessed by those wishing to verify these studies here. I have therefore developed the relevant skills to translate Classical Chinese Buddhist texts academically, and within the religious community. I further intend to continue my academic training and undertake a PhD, when financial circumstances allow.
Beyond the particulars of my qualifications, it should be known that I care deeply, about these texts. That might not count for much to some, but given that multiple attempts to bring this project to fruition have failed in the past, this deep care, might be precisely what is necessary. I have dedicated a significant portion of my life to studying, practising and translating such Dharma-treasuries. And I therefore care only that they should be available, and that, accurately. Consequently, moving forward I will sincerely endeavour to seek correction and improvement for these translations, where this is possible.
Though imperfect then, I have cultivated a number of skills related to both the language and concepts required for interpreting these works, I have a relationship with the living-transmission of them, and I care sufficiently to at the very least, begin the work of bringing them to an English-speaking audience.
Why now?
I believe that now, is the time to begin this work. Master Saichō advocated for a comprehensive form of Buddha-Dharma, unified under the banner of the Original Intent 本意 of the Buddhas. That is namely, the Ekayāna 一乘 of the Lotus Sūtra 法華經.
And this unifying edifice seems uniquely poised to meet Western Buddhism at the crossroad it now faces. Western Buddhists are presented with an abundance of options in choosing a Dharma tradition, the likes of which have not existed, since the heights of Indian Buddhist proliferation. This could therefore be the beginning of a great deal of cross-pollination, conducive to a genuine maturation of the Western Buddhist and Western Buddhism. Or, it could result in a sticky mire, lacking in the hard won victories, of life-long and focused dedication. Will the ethos of Western Buddhism become a synthesis of what is firm and wholesome from among the traditions? Or will it morph into a mere pool, with the sediment of all and the virtues of none? Now is the time to avail ourselves of the efforts made in this direction, by the great masters of the past, and against the background of whom we now stand.
How will this work?
My long-term intention, is to publish the final translations with heavy annotation, in printed editions. However, given the immense scale of this project, and therefore the difficulty of estimating a time-line which is anything more than wishful at this stage, the draft translations of Master Saichō‘s works, will be made freely available here. These can be found on the TEXTS page.
By providing the drafts here, supporters and devotees will be able to consult and study them. And just as importantly, scholars and scholar-practitioners will be able to check and provide corrections and refinements to them. It should be known that I warmly welcome any suggestions, which result in the final print editions being improved.
New draft translations will be uploaded fortnightly, and though these translations can be directly accessed from the TEXTS page, the project’s progress can be monitored at the UPDATES page. In order to account for the difficulty of certain texts, and because the Collected Works of Dengyō Daishi Saichō 傳教大師全集 are arranged thematically, I will not necessarily work chronologically from text 1 to text 179. I will however, give extra weight to texts included in the first volume, so that the print editions may be prepared as the project develops.
The draft translations are protected by a CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivatives) Creative Commons Licence. This means that the drafts may be used by others:
– provided that they attribute/credit our translations appropriately;
– do not modify or change them;
– and do not use them for commercial purposes.
I retain ownership rights to these translations, and the finalised versions with annotation, will be published commercially. For more information on the acceptable usage and attribution requirements, please see the LICENSE & USAGE page, where you will find the usage statement.
Why I need your help!
I will not be restricting access to these drafts in any way, and I want those who’re unable to purchase the print-editions to still have access to the works of Our Master.
However, I must presently work full-time in order to support myself, our temple, and these translations. The time and effort I put into this Saichō Repository 最澄典藏 Project then, is limited to a large degree by those hours I am able to steal from this schedule. I am currently looking into potential funding for this project, but if I wait for this to be secured before setting out, we may never arrive.
Therefore, to anyone who is able or willing to support this project, please sincerely consider doing so. If I am able to work less, then the progress of this project will be greatly increased. This can be done via the below PayPal, or on the Patreon provided:
(If you support us via PayPal, please simply add the Saicho Repository Project to the note)
Given the fact that I am not currently enrolled in a PhD programme, nor have I previously received one, I am precluded from a number of academic grants which might otherwise be applicable. Therefore, should anyone out there know of others who might be willing to support the project, or of translation grants that might still be available to me, please reach out on the Message Us page. Please consider supporting this project, or putting us in contact with those who might.
Even if you are not able to support the project financially, you can still help us by getting the word out there, or by connecting us with interested parties. Furthermore, if you have the technical or linguistic expertise to provide feedback and corrections, please assist us in making these translations more accurate. Reach out and help us, so that our collective resources are the better for it.
For even more humble helpers out there, remember that even if you don’t feel able to assist financially or linguistically, if during the course of your reading, you come across a potentially significant reference to another work/scripture, please don’t hesitate to let us know. In short, we’re open to any and all support that might given to us.
Without Further Ado:
Please consider following, supporting, improving, or getting the word out there about this project. The first two texts may be found at the TEXTS page, the UPDATES page, or at the below links. Let’s go on this journey together!
FIRST TWO TEXTS:
