Was Shunjobo Chogen a Tendai monk? From what I can gather on the net he was a Shingon monk, but his beads in this portrait look like Tendai beads
Although I know many other denominations in Japan (and other countries) use similar flat style beads.
Gassho,
Seishin.
Shunjobo Chogen
Re: Shunjobo Chogen
I don't know much about Chogen apart from what I read in Ruppert's Jewel in the Ashes. No evidence he was a Tendai monk AFAIK.
Re: Shunjobo Chogen
Chōgen trained at Daigoji and Kōyasan, so he probably was formally a Shingon monk. But he was deeply influenced by Pure Land Buddhism and probably Kegonshū, as he was closely associated with Tōdai-ji, the head temple of Kegonshū (which is also mainly mikkyō). He lived some time as a hijiri, so I guess, that neither his robe nor his juzu are strictly "orthodox"...
Re: Shunjobo Chogen
Thank you both for your replies. That clears that up nicely
Gassho,
Seishin.
Gassho,
Seishin.