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 |