Enchin’s Ordination Certificates (Enchin doen)

Ink on Paper / One Scroll of Two Documents

  • [Document 1] Ordination Doen Certificate
  • [Document 2] Ordination Kugen Certificate
  • original
  • transcription
  • original
  • transcription

A rare original doen ordination certificate

Under the Ritsuryo system, the state issued certificates to monks and nuns who had permission to take monastic vows. This document is Enchin's doen certificate from when he officially became a monk of the Tendai Order at the age of 19 under his teacher Gishin, and ordination kugen certificate from when he took the Mahayana Bodhisattva vow at Enryaku-ji Temple's precepts platform. Below Enchin's name and age is a record for identity verification, stating that Enchin was from Kanakura Village, Naka District, Sanuki Province (present-day Konzoji Town, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture), born as the eldest son of Wake no Yakanari and given the secular name Hiro'o.

Category
National Treasure 
Era
[Document 1] March 25, 833; [Document 2] April 15, 833
Measurements
29.8 × 91.0 cm