Jaina Studies in Japan
By Atsusi Uno
Summary
The article "Jaina Studies in Japan" by Assuser Uso examines the historical and academic development of Jainism studies within Japanese academia, tracing its evolution from indirect, Buddhist-mediated understandings to more critical, direct scholarly engagement. The main argument is that Japanese Indological studies, heavily influenced by Buddhism since its introduction in the 6th century A.D., initially relied exclusively on Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist translations, which presented Jainism merely as "naked heretics" or part of the "sixty-two heretics." Uso contends that this framework reduced Jainism to a supporting role for Buddhist apologetics, creating inherent contradictions and misrepresentations, though these sources still contain valuable, unintended historical truths. The author identifies significant hurdles to proper Jain studies in Japan, including the lack of native source materials, a traditional academic focus on Buddhism, and linguistic challenges. Despite these obstacles, the article highlights a growing critical trend, noting that Japanese scholars, with their superior command of classical Chinese and Tibetan, are uniquely positioned to explore the historical contacts, mutual influences, and assimilations between Jainism and Buddhism. The text outlines three primary future research areas: historical interrelations, the modification of Jain teachings through other schools' polemics, and the general study of Jaina literature. To support this argument, Uso discusses the contributions of several pioneering scholars. J. Suzuki is noted as a pioneer who authored the posthumous work *Jaina Sacred Books* in 1920, which provided a critical introduction to Jainism. Dr. H. Ui is praised for his exhaustive investigations into the "six heretical schools" and the "sixty-two heretical thought," utilizing Buddhist canons, Jaina texts, and Sanskrit sources to categorize Indian thought. Dr. E. Kanakura is highlighted for his synthetic and steady approach in works like *History of Spiritual Civilisation of Ancient India* (1939) and *Study of Indian Spiritual Civilisation* (1940), which synthesized European and Indian scholarship. Additionally, Prof. S. Matsunami is mentioned for his critical study of the historical relations between Jainism and Buddhism based on canonical works, while Dr. H. Nakamura is cited for his various treatises on the subject. The article concludes by listing these scholars' published works.
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Conclusion
Jaina studies in Japan have historically faced significant challenges, primarily due to the reliance on Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist translations that often misrepresented Jainism as a school of heretics. Despite these limitations and adverse academic conditions, pioneering Japanese scholars have made substantial contributions, critically analyzing the historical contact and philosophical interrelations between Jainism and Buddhism. The work of figures like J. Suzuki, H. Ui, and E. Kanakura has introduced authentic aspects of Jain thought to the Japanese academy. Looking forward, future research is likely to focus on historical interrelations, the modification of Jain teachings through polemics, and general literary studies. The author expresses optimism that young Japanese scholars, with their superior command of classical Asian languages, are poised to produce profounder results in this field, thereby enriching the global understanding of Jainism beyond traditional prejudices.