Kenshō

Master Kenshō 阿闍梨顕昭 (?1130-?1209)

Kenshō’s dates are uncertain, although one tradition assigns him a lifespan of about eighty years, as suggested above. He is known to have been the adopted son of Master of the Left Capital Office Fujiwara no Akisuke 藤原顕輔, but his true parentage remains unknown. He appears to have taken orders early and initially studied at the holy sites on Mount Hiei 比叡山, but later moved to Ninna Temple 仁和寺 where he achieved the rank of Master (ajari 阿闍梨), and later Bridge of Law (hokkyō 法橋) – essentially indicating that he was considered erudite enough to teach other monks about scripture. The Ninna Temple had a strong connection with the imperial family, originally being founded by Emperor Uda 宇多 in 888, and at the time of Kenshō’s residence was also the home of Cloistered Prince Shukaku 守覚法親王 (1150-1202) who was renowned for his interest in and skill with poetry. Kenshō, too, excelled in this area, and under Shukaku’s patronage wrote numerous works on poetics and, in his later years, was frequently chosen to be judge at various poetry competitions. In fact, one of his extant works, Kenshō Chinjō 顕昭陳状 recounts his discontent with many of the judgements reached by Shunzei in the Roppyaku-ban Uta Awase.

Kenshō has the following poems in the Roppyaku-ban Uta Awase:

9
17
25
37
57
61
83
95
101
111
121
141
145
163
169
181
197
207
227
231
241
257
273
287
295
303
323
327
337
349
371
377
389
397
417
423
439
445
459
473
481
497
507
527
529
541
559
567
581
589
609
617
627
643
653
667
673
685
707
709
729
733
753
757
773
781
799
807
823
829
845
853
871
885
897
901
913
929
937
959
961
973
985
997
1009
1027
1033
1053
1065
1069
1081
1099
1115
1117
1129
1141
1153
1169
1183
1189

'Simply moving and elegant'