Zhēnyán míngmù 眞言名目
Mantra-Tradition Technical-Term Lexicon by 頼寶 (述)
About the work
A single-fascicle technical-terminology lexicon of the medieval Shingon school’s doctrinal-systematic vocabulary, by Raihō 頼寶 (1279–1330) of Mt. Kōya. The work bears Raihō’s explicit signature: “Shamana Raihō has set down” 沙門頼寶述.
Abstract
Authorship. Explicit in the Taishō header.
Date. Within Raihō’s mature career, early 14th century.
Content. The work proceeds systematically through the principal technical-terminological vocabulary of medieval Shingon doctrine. The opening mokuroku:
- 六大體大事 — On the six-element substance-greatness matters.
- 四曼相大事 — On the four-mandala mark-greatness matters.
- 三密用大事 — On the three-mystery function-greatness matters.
- 三種卽身成佛事 — On the three kinds of this-body-becoming-Buddha matters.
- 三劫事 — On the three-kalpa matters.
- 六無畏事 — On the six fearless [states] matters.
- (further entries through the full inventory of Shingon technical terms).
For each term, Raihō provides:
- The etymological / definitional account.
- The doctrinal-systematic role of the term within the broader Shingon doctrinal architecture.
- The scriptural foundation with citations from the foundational Esoteric texts.
- The contested interpretations, where present, with the settled medieval position.
The work follows the doctrinal-systematic vocabulary articulated in Kūkai’s foundational treatises — particularly the Sokushinjōbutsu-gi (KR6t0128) framework of six elements, four mandalas, three mysteries — and presents it in compact lexicographic form for student reference.
Significance. As a Shingon technical-terminological lexicon, the work is a key reference for medieval and modern Shingon doctrinal study — providing the precise technical articulation of the central Shingon doctrinal vocabulary. The work is studied alongside its companion the Zhūfǎ fēnbié chāo (KR6t0154) as the introductory doctrinal-systematic reference of the late-Kamakura Shingi-Shingon doctrinal heritage.
Translations and research
- No Western-language translation located.
- Yamasaki Taikō 山崎泰廣, Shingon: Japanese Esoteric Buddhism (Shambhala, 1988) — uses Raihō’s terminology framework throughout.