Shinran (Volume 2)

Eiji Yoshikawa / 松月白Feb 2025

4.2

Word count: 145K words
Chapters: 32

Summary

The one who rescued Lady Tamahi from the clutches of the great thief Tenjo Shiro was none other than Han'en. From that day on, Han'en became a man harboring tender feelings. That sweet spring fragrance, no matter how he tried to drive it away, lingered around him.

Holding the forbidden pearl, he cannot help but tremble. In the nights of Kyoto, he is lost in anguish and nearly driven mad by his troubles! As if determined to hunt him down, the mountain ascetic Ben'en challenges him.

Weary from his confusion over faith, Han'en at this time meets Honen. This wondrous encounter with Honen becomes the major turning point in Shinran's life.

Editor's review

The middle volume is the key installment in the turning point of Shinran's life. The story begins with Han'en rescuing Lady Tamahi, writing an irrepressible tender feeling as an undercurrent in the character's heart: the sweet spring fragrance, the forbidden pearl held close, the nearly mad confusion in the nights of Kyoto—author Eiji Yoshikawa uses a novelistic style to make these private troubles concrete and palpable rather than abstract psychological labels. The challenge from the mountain ascetic Ben'en further pushes Han'en toward weariness and wavering in faith, and it is precisely in such a low point that his wondrous encounter with Honen becomes the major turning point in Shinran's life. The value of this volume lies in not writing the turning point as a dramatic scene of sudden enlightenment, but letting it slowly take shape amid troubles, weariness, and chance encounter—closer to a real person. Suitable for readers interested in the growth process of religious figures and Japanese Buddhist history, and also for general readers who enjoy biography written in a novelistic style. Best read in sequence with the first volume and then the second to see the complete arc from confusion to resolve.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the growth and psychological turning points of religious figures
General readers who enjoy Japanese historical figures written in a novelistic style
Readers concerned with experiences of confusion and wavering in faith
Readers preparing to read the Shinran trilogy in sequence

Not a good fit for

Readers hoping for direct systematic exposition of doctrine
Those who prefer strong plots and lack patience for inner description
Readers expecting a standalone work independent of adjacent volumes

Reading tips

Read the first volume to understand character relationships before entering this volume's tender feelings and faith struggle.
When reading the meeting between Han'en and Honen, look back at earlier text to appreciate the buildup to the turning point.
After finishing, continue to the next volume to observe how confusion transforms into perseverance amid persecution.

版权信息
女人篇
风水流转
阵雨之罪
璀璨月夜
牡丹使者
峰阿弥的故事
打碎白瓷
驱散迷雾
大盗篇
霰
长臂猿
九十九夜
下山
恋爱篇
门
吉水夜话
屋顶下
冈崎的家
火焰之舞
春日佳音
同车篇
熊野犬
不退之辇
净土万华
法敌篇
冰柱之下
春雷
宣战
沙门之妻
焚烧牛车
风波未息

FAQ

Are Han'en and Shinran the same person in this volume?

According to this book's narrative, Han'en is Shinran's name before ordination; this volume writes about his tender feelings after rescuing Tamahi, his troubles and faith confusion, and his encounter with Honen as the turning point. Readers can understand him as different stages of the same person and note the life progression behind the name change.

Why is the meeting between Han'en and Honen important?

The material shows that the wondrous encounter with Honen became the major turning point in Shinran's life. Before that, Han'en was consumed by tender feelings and faith confusion, and Ben'en's challenge pushed him to the edge of weariness; after the encounter, his life direction changes. Read this passage slowly and note how earlier buildup converges here.

Is this middle volume suitable as an introduction to Shinran?

Not very suitable as a standalone introduction. The middle volume carries over character relationships from the first volume and lays groundwork for the persecution in the second, so reading it alone feels fragmented. To get started, begin from the first volume and read in order; if you only want the turning-point passages, read the latter half of this volume first, then go back for earlier context.

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About the author

Eiji Yoshikawa Author · Japan · 1892–1962

Eiji Yoshikawa (1892–1962) was a native of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and a leading author of Japanese popular literature, hailed as a “national writer.” After leaving school early, he worked as a printer and a shipyard worker, among other jobs, while continuing to educate himself. He entered the literary world in 1914 and later became known for his historical novels. His works are mostly drawn from Japanese and Chinese history, and he excelled at portraying personal growth and the sweep of an era within a framework of historical fact, in a style that is accessible and deeply engaging. His major works include Musashi, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, The New Taiko Chronicles, Kuroda Josui, and Minamoto no Yoritomo. This library holds 46 of his works, including several volumes of the Three Kingdoms series and the complete Musashi. His historical novels have long enjoyed a wide readership and have had a significant influence on the development of Japanese popular literature.

松月白 Author

Songyue Bai is a Chinese translator working in the field of Japanese historical and swordsman fiction. Public information about this translator is limited, with no clear records of biography, nationality, or dates of birth and death. Judging from the twelve works held in the collection, Songyue Bai has focused on introducing Japanese popular historical literature to Chinese readers, having translated works such as Uesugi Kenshin, Taira no Masakado, Yagyu Tsukikage-sho, Kumo no Enmacho, and the new edition of Chushingura. The translated works center on stories of Sengoku warlords, Edo-period swordsmen, and loyal retainers, while also touching on mystery and otherworld fantasy genres. The representative work Shinran, in three volumes, deals with the biography of a Japanese Buddhist figure. Overall, Songyue Bai's choices lean toward strongly narrative works rich in legendary characters, and the translations serve to convey the appeal of Japanese historical fiction, offering readable texts for Chinese readers interested in such subjects.