Notes on Tannishō Study Group and An Introduction to Tannishō：A Fragment of Buddhists' Peace Movements in Cold War Japan

Tannishō, recognized as a segment of the scriptures of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, has been passed down through diverse historical periods and societal contexts. In which eras and societal circumstances have individuals sought Shinran’s teachings as documented in Tannishō? With this perspective in mind, this paper will concentrate on the Tannishō Study Group, a community of individuals exploring both Buddhist and Christian ideologies, which has been active for nearly 30 years since 1960. Furthermore, the paper will discuss the book published by the group the following year, titlee as Introduction to Tannishō: Shinran and the Contemporary World. Introduction to the Tannishō was crafted against the backdrop of the Cold War, characterized by heightened awareness of military conflicts and the looming threat of full-scale nuclear war. The book draws upon Shinran’s teachings to conceptualize an alternative world order rooted in Eastern Buddhist thought. Within its pages, the Tannishō Study Group seems to emphasize the exploration of perspectives aimed at transcending the Cold War international order that emerged after World War II, leveraging Eastern thought, rather than presenting a strict doctrinal interpretation of Tannishō. The contents of the book surprise readers, given its title “Introduction to Tannishō,” as it simultaneously introduces Shinran’s teachings within a distinctive context in a way of appropriation. Due to the author’s limited expertise in Buddhist history, accurately situating the Tannishō Study Group and “Introduction to Tannishō” within the existing body of research on Shin Buddhism and Tannishō interpretation poses a formidable challenge. Nonetheless, reconstructing the context in which Tannishō Study Group was established and Introduction to the Tannishō was composed appears feasible. Through this research, it may be possible to shed light on a realm that has been overlooked in the gap between studies of Buddhist history and the history of social movements. The aim of this research note is to illuminate the diverse range of contributors of the intellectual movement that has gradually taken shape through religious thought, encompassing Buddhism.