Kannonkyô Hayayomi Eshô : From a focus on doctrine and practice to a focus on learning

Abstract

This thesis seeks to investigate how notions of learning are expressed in the Oslo copy of Kannonkyô Hayayomi Eshô from 1739. This book was a popular text that sold very well during the Edo period, when printed books spread out in all classes of the society. The book contains a sūtra text, a commentary to the text and a guide to the Saikoku pilgrimage route of western Japan. It is not a religious text, but rather an example of a book that seeks to educate its audience in Kannon worship. It was no longer enough to recite, memorize and posses the sutra text; but deemed that one should also learn and understand it. The book also contains an interesting combination of pictures and text, drawing from Chinese examples, but still showing Japanese interiors and dress styles.