Japanese Literary Awards

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Hiroto Yoshihara

よしはら ひろと

Yoshihara Hiroto

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1955-01-01
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Buddhist studies scholar, Professor
Active Years
1980-
Affiliations
Waseda University, School of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Institute of Japanese Religious Culture, Waseda University (Director), Zhejiang Gongshang University, East Asia Research Institute (Visiting), Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Japanese Language and Culture Institute (Visiting), Nankai University, School of Foreign Languages (Visiting)

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Monogatari: Kai Zenkō-ji

2003 Religious history / cultural history

A study collecting and analyzing tales and sources related to Zenkō-ji in Kai, discussing connections between regional religious culture and setsuwa literature.

local religious beliefsetsuwa (tale) literaturetemple history

Shinshu Juhō Shūei Vol.3 (co-editor)

1988 Edited volume / Buddhist studies

Participation as a co-editor in the third volume of a collected materials series concerning Shin Buddhism.

Shin Buddhismtextual compilation

A Study of 'Tōrōbutsu' (editor)

2000 Buddhist studies / research volume

An edited volume compiling sources and interpretations on 'Tōrōbutsu', including treatment of picture-exegesis and iconographic materials.

picture-exegesisiconographyBuddhist ritual

Concepts of Death in the East (editor)

2006 History of religious thought

An edited collection aimed at comparative studies of concepts of death across Eastern regions, primarily featuring essays on Buddhist thought.

views on death and afterlifecomparative religious studies

Tendai Culture Across the Sea (co-editor)

2008 Religious transmission / cultural history

A collection focusing on maritime routes and overseas exchange of Tendai culture, discussing the history of religious exchange between Japan and East Asia.

Tendai Buddhismreligious exchangeEast Asian history

Old Manuscript: 'Eto-toku no naigon ganmon-shū' (editor)

2009 Classical text editing

An edited and annotated edition of an old manuscript, contributing to preservation and interpretation of medieval sources.

philologymedieval studies

Mount Heng of the South and the Prince Shōtoku Cult (co-editor)

2018 Religious history / comparative study

A co-edited volume examining relationships between Mount Heng (Nanyue) worship in China and the cult of Prince Shōtoku in Japan, emphasizing comparative historical perspectives.

Prince Shōtoku cultJapan-China religious comparison

Medieval Zen Texts Series Vol.12 (transcription & commentary)

2018 Zen studies / text transcription

Responsible for the transcription and commentary of 'Shinsei Saifuku Innen-shū', contributing primary materials for medieval Zen studies.

Zen Buddhismmanuscript transcription

Bibliography

  • Monogatari: Kai Zenkō-ji. Ebisu Kōshō Publishing, 2003
  • Shinshu Juhō Shūei Vol.3 (co-editor). Dōhōsha, 1988
  • A Study of 'Tōrōbutsu' (editor). Shibundō, 2000
  • Concepts of Death in the East (editor). Shunjūsha, 2006
  • Tendai Culture Across the Sea (co-editor). Bensei Publishing, 2008
  • Old Manuscript: 'Eto-toku no naigon ganmon-shū' (editor). Nishogakusha Univ. COE Program, 2009
  • Mount Heng of the South and the Prince Shōtoku Cult (co-editor). Bensei Publishing, 2018
  • Medieval Zen Texts Series Vol.12 (transcription & commentary). Rinsen Books, 2018

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scholarly, academic proseEmphasis on source criticism and annotated commentary
Recurring Motifs
analysis of picture-exegesis and iconographylinks between setsuwa tales and temple historyJapan-China religious exchange

Legacy

Recognized for contributions to medieval Japanese Buddhist history, setsuwa literature, and picture-exegesis studies; has advanced philological work through edited volumes and transcriptions and contributed to training future scholars through university teaching and research.

Trivia

  • Professor at Waseda University (School of Letters, Arts and Sciences) and director of the Institute of Japanese Religious Culture.
  • Has held visiting professorships at several Chinese universities.
  • Publication lists are available on CiNii and Researchmap.