Soga Ryojin

Background

Soga Ryojin was born on August 5, 1875 in Niigata, Japan.

Education

He entered Shinshu University, later known as Ōtani University, and graduated in 1901. After graduation from Shinshū, Soga returned to Niigata and became the adopted son-in-law of the priest of Jō'on-ji, a temple in Mitsuke, Niigata.

Career

He served as a professor at Toyo University from 1916 to 1924, and then served as a professor at Ōtani University for the following 25 years. He was given the title of professor emeritus. He was an adviser to Otani faction of the Shinshu Sect, and was an editor-in-chief of an organ paper for the religious organization.

Soga Ryōjin developed a subjective and personal approach to Jōdo Shinshū studies, building on the thought of Kiyozawa Manshi, which he summarised in the words: "We do not believe in Buddha or God because they actually exist, they exist because we believe in them". Soga's writing on the topic in his book Nyorai hyōgen no hanchū to shiteno sanjinkan, published in 1928, brought him into strong conflict with his denomination. He left his professorship at Ōtani University soon after in April 1930.

Soga returned as a professor at Ōtani University in 1941. He served as the 17th president of the university from 1961 to 1967, and died on June 20, 1971.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Thanksgiving Sermons of Soga Ryōjin: The Hōonkō Services of the Higashi Honganji

    (This book is an English translation of the sermons given ...)

    1955

References

• A Soga Ryojin Reader The present collection brings together selections from the writings of Soga Ryōjin, arguably the most innovative and influential Pure Land Buddhist thinker of twentieth-century Japan.
  2017