明州与日本高野山真言宗的开山传说

Mingzhou and the Original Legend of Japanese Koyasan Shinjon Sect

大唐明州,今日宁波,自遣唐使以来成为中日交往的重要口岸。804年,空海入唐留学,得到密宗七祖惠果和尚的真传。空海欲提前回国,护国济民,弘法利生。但其归国的路线,史料缺载。后世传说,空海在明州海边向日本方向投掷的三钴杵,落到高野山的一颗松树上,成为日本密教大本山高野山的开山缘起。此传说同时也暗示空海从明州返航归国的可能性。

Ningbo, where was named Mingzhou in the Tang Dynasty, now has become an important port for China-Japanese exchanges since the Japanese envoy to Tang China. In 804, Kukai went to Tang China and studied Esoteric Buddhism with Keika Ajari. After that, he wanted to return to Japan in advance, hoped to benefit all sentient beings and promote Buddhism among the people. However, the return route is unclear due to the lack of historical data. According to the later original legend, the three-pronged vajra thrown by Kukai from Mingzhou seaside to the Japanese side, fell on a pine tree on the Koyasan Mountain, where becomes the Holy Land of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. This legend also implies the possibility that Kukai returned to Japan from Mingzhou.