Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Rules for Mount Hiei students: excerpt

山家学生式(抄)さんげがくしょうしき

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

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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(さんげがくしょうしき)にのたまわく、国宝(こくほう)とは何物(なにもの)ぞ、宝(たから)とは道心(どうしん)なり。

sangegakushoushikininotamawaku, kokuhoutoha nanimonozo, takaratoha doushinnari.

道心(どうしん)ある人(ひと)を名(な)づけて国宝(こくほう)と為(な)す。

doushin'aru hitowo nazukete kokuhouto nasu.

故(ゆえ)に古人(こじん)の言(い)わく、径(けい)寸十枚(すんじゅうまい)、是(こ)れ国宝(こくほう)に非(あら)ず、一隅(いちぐう)を照(て)らす、此(こ)れ則(すなわ)ち国宝(こくほう)なりと。

yueni kojinno iwaku, kei sunjuumai, kore kokuhouni arazu, ichiguuwo terasu, kore sunawachi kokuhounarito.

古哲(こてつ)また言(い)わく、能(よ)く言(い)いて行(おこな)うこと能(あた)わざるは国(くに)の師(し)なり。

kotetsumata iwaku, yoku iite okonaukoto atawazaruha kunino shinari.

能(よ)く行(おこな)いて言(い)うこと能(あた)わざるは国(くに)の用(ゆう)なり。

yoku okonaite iukoto atawazaruha kunino yuunari.

能(よ)く行(おこな)い能(よ)く言(い)うは国(くに)の宝(たから)なり。

yoku okonai yoku iuha kunino takaranari.

三品(さんぼん)の内(うち)、唯(ただ)言(い)うこと能(あた)わず、行(おこな)うこと能(あた)わざるを、国(くに)の賊(ぞく)と為(な)すと。

sanbonno uchi, tada iukoto atawazu, okonaukoto atawazaruwo, kunino zokuto nasuto.

乃(すなわ)ち道心(どうしん)あるの仏子(ぶっし)、西(にし)には菩薩(ぼさつ)と称(しょう)し、東(ひがし)には君子(くんし)と号(ごう)す。

sunawachi doushin'aruno busshi, nishiniha bosatsuto shoushi, higashiniha kunshito gousu.

悪事(あくじ)を己(おのれ)に向(む)かえ好事(こうじ)を他(た)に与(あた)え、己(おのれ)を忘(わす)れて他(た)を利(り)するは慈悲(じひ)の極(きわ)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.

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