Read, reflect, pray
Rules for Mount Hiei students: excerpt
山家学生式(抄)
A passage from Saichō’s rules for students on Mount Hiei, including the expression “illuminate one corner.” The whole work is not reproduced here.
English meaning and source text
English meaning
About this English rendering
This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.
The Sange gakushō shiki says: what is the nation’s treasure? The treasure is the heart seeking the Buddha’s way.
A person with that heart is called the nation’s treasure.
Thus an ancient person said: ten precious jewels an inch across are not the nation’s treasure; one who illuminates a single corner is the nation’s treasure.
An ancient sage also said: one who can speak well but cannot act is the nation’s teacher.
One who can act well but cannot speak is useful to the nation.
One who both acts well and speaks well is the nation’s treasure.
Of these kinds, one who can neither speak nor act is called the nation’s thief in this historical text.
Thus, a child of the Buddha who seeks the way is called a bodhisattva in the West and an exemplary person in the East.
Taking what is bad upon oneself and giving what is good to others, forgetting oneself to benefit others, is the utmost compassion.
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.
How to use the Roman letters
Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.
You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.
山家学生式にのたまわく、国宝とは何物ぞ、宝とは道心なり。
sangegakushoushikininotamawaku, kokuhoutoha nanimonozo, takaratoha doushinnari.
道心ある人を名づけて国宝と為す。
doushin'aru hitowo nazukete kokuhouto nasu.
故に古人の言わく、径寸十枚、是れ国宝に非ず、一隅を照らす、此れ則ち国宝なりと。
yueni kojinno iwaku, kei sunjuumai, kore kokuhouni arazu, ichiguuwo terasu, kore sunawachi kokuhounarito.
古哲また言わく、能く言いて行うこと能わざるは国の師なり。
kotetsumata iwaku, yoku iite okonaukoto atawazaruha kunino shinari.
能く行いて言うこと能わざるは国の用なり。
yoku okonaite iukoto atawazaruha kunino yuunari.
能く行い能く言うは国の宝なり。
yoku okonai yoku iuha kunino takaranari.
三品の内、唯言うこと能わず、行うこと能わざるを、国の賊と為すと。
sanbonno uchi, tada iukoto atawazu, okonaukoto atawazaruwo, kunino zokuto nasuto.
乃ち道心あるの仏子、西には菩薩と称し、東には君子と号す。
sunawachi doushin'aruno busshi, nishiniha bosatsuto shoushi, higashiniha kunshito gousu.
悪事を己に向かえ好事を他に与え、己を忘れて他を利するは慈悲の極みなり。
akujiwo onoreni mukae koujiwo tani atae, onorewo wasurete tawo risuruha jihino kiwaminari.
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
Sources and edition (1)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.