The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha

Terminology and Translation

TerMinology and TranslaTion owing to the character of previous scholarship on “monk-warriors” (sōhei), nomenclature is one important aspect of this work. I have attempted to be consistent in my translations of the many terms associated with the monastic complexes, but it is ultimately impossible to find exact equivalents in English for the many variations that are used in historical sources. One reason is that such terms referred to different types of groups or people depending on the era. Thus, hosshi (master of the law) might at one point refer to an ordained monk of some status, but in later sources the same term denotes warriors who had taken Buddhist vows but in all other aspects lived as they had done before and might therefore best be described as lay monks. Another reason, as I argue in chapter 3, is the sheer variety of terms that might denote one and the same group; these complications suggest that terms were often used without much precision. In fact, nobles discussing the activities of menial workers, shrine servants, or lower-ranking clerics were rarely well informed about who comprised these groups, and therefore used a range of terms meaningful for the discussants but not particularly revealing. Thus, in translating these terms, I have looked for words that can reflect the diverse nature of these groups’ social and occupational status. Japanese names are given with the surname first, followed by the given name. In the case of large noble families, I have inserted the genitive no after the surname, as was common in the pre-1600 era. For dates in citations, I have followed the commonly accepted practice in academe of listing the year according to the Gregorian calendar with the lunar month and day. The Japanese era names are consistently listed in the notes for those inter- ested in finding the source citations. Chinese characters are included in the bibliography for all historical sources used and for all authors of secondary works. For those interested in further studying figures and events mentioned in this study, the index contains Chinese characters for all names and terms listed. Readers wishing to explore sōhei images, sources, and translations further are encouraged to visit www.teethandclaws.net, where comments and questions can be posted as well. xvi terminology and translation Map 1. Provinces and Highways of Premodern Japan. Printed with permission from Bruce Batten. Map 2. Central Japan. Adapted from volume 4 of Niho no rekishi: Ritsuryō kokka (Tokyo: Shōgakkan, 1974). ...