Questions and Answers on the Object of Devotion Chapter8-2（Ganjin, who exclusively promoted precepts）
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In Japan in the time of the thirtieth sovereign, Emperor Kimmei,11 Buddhism was first introduced from the Korean kingdom of Paekche. At first there was violent controversy between Buddhism and the indigenous belief in gods that continued for more than thirty years. Then, in the reign of the thirty-fourth sovereign, Empress Suiko, Prince Shōtoku first propagated the Buddhist teachings throughout the country.
At that time two honorable priests from the state of Paekche, Ekan and Kanroku, disseminated the doctrines of the Three Treatises school. In the reign of Emperor Kōtoku, Dōshō introduced the Zen school, and in that of Emperor Mommu the priest Chihō from the Korean kingdom of Silla introduced the Dharma Characteristics school.
In the reign of the forty-fourth sovereign, Empress Genshō, the Tripitaka Master Shan-wu-wei brought the Mahāvairochana Sutra to Japan,12 but he did not remain to propagate its teachings. In the reign of Emperor Shōmu the Preceptor Shinjō and the Administrator of Priests Rōben introduced the Flower Garland school.
In the reign of the forty-sixth sovereign, Empress Kōken, the Reverend Ganjin from T’ang China introduced the Precepts school and the Lotus Sutra. He worked to propagate the doctrines of the Precepts school but not those of the Lotus Sutra.
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Notes
11. Emperor Kimmei is now regarded as the twenty-ninth emperor of Japan, because the administration of the fifteenth ruler, Empress Jingū, is no longer considered a formal reign. In Nichiren Daishonin’s time, however, she was included in the lineage, so Emperor Kimmei was counted as the thirtieth sovereign.
12. Mention of Shan-wu-wei’s stay in Japan appears in A Brief History of Japan by the priest Kōen (12th century) of Mount Hiei, and The Genkō Era Biographies of Eminent Priests by the Zen priest Kokan Shiren (1278–1346). Though no conclusive proof exists that Shan-wu-wei actually journeyed to Japan, this tradition is thought to have been widely accepted in the Daishonin’s time.