The Origins of Jinjya Daisho(Great General of the Desert) and his Reception in Japan: Trend Through the Heian Period
MATSUOKA Kumiko
Buddhist Arts (3) 79 - 96 2019/09
[Refereed] The origin of the deity known as "深沙大将(Jinjya Daishō)" in Japanese, can be traced back to China. This deity possessed a epidemic character and was closely associated with a demon god called "深沙," often mentioned alongside "浮丘." There's a tale of 深沙 taking on the form of a child and becoming the guardian deity of a monk studying sutras, demonstrating miraculous powers. The appearance when 深沙 revealed its true identity to the practitioner later served as the basis for the image of 深沙大将.
In the early 9th century, legends of miraculous events related to a statue of 深沙大将, enshrined in Jiangling, began circulating. It was believed that invoking 深沙大将's name could protect people from water disasters. This led to 深沙大将 being revered as a guardian deity of water transportation, for common people, and this faith spread throughout the Yangtze River region. In addition to the legends of 玄奘's journey from Shu to Jiangnan, 深沙大将's role as a protector of travelers and scripture keepers was associated with the "一大神" he encountered in the Western Regions.
As a result, 深沙大将 quickly gained popularity in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region, starting from Shu. This period is estimated to have occurred between 806 AD when 空海 returned to Japan and 838 AD when 常暁 entered the Tang Dynasty. In Japan, information about 深沙大将 was brought from the Tang Dynasty through various routes, including those by 常暁 and 円珍. Most of this information consisted of legends related to 深沙大将 originating in China.
In Japan, statues of 深沙大将, based on information brought from the Tang Dynasty, were initially created. However, a shift in this situation occurred during the later Heian period. Among the existing examples, the statue of 深沙大将 at 明通寺(Myotsu-ji)Temple in Fukui Prefecture, holding a spear and standing alongside 降三世明王 on either side of the 薬師如来, represents a significant turning point. The background of this change is believed to be closely linked to the reevaluation of 玄奘, who played a crucial role in connecting Indian Buddhism with Japanese Buddhism, ensuring the legitimacy of Japanese Buddhism. It is believed that this reevaluation had a significant influence in paving the way for the unique development of 深沙大将 in Japan.