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ShinranAuthor: Yoshikawa Eiji

Original Title親鸞
Author吉川 英治
GenreHistorical Fiction
Author TypeMale Author
SummaryIn feudal Japan’s turbulent era, where power struggles between the Taira and Minamoto clans ignite unrest, a disheveled monk named Mongaku roams Kyoto’s dusty streets. Once a warrior, his fervent sermons on humanity’s suffering and pleas to rebuild sacred temples fall on indifferent ears—until a mysterious traveler, Yoshitsugu, reveals clandestine plots to revive the Minamoto legacy. Their paths intertwine with whispers of a destined child: Jūhachi Kimimaro, born under celestial signs to a noblewoman whose lineage bridges warring dynasties. As political intrigue tightens its grip, Mongaku’s spiritual reckoning mirrors the author’s own journey—grappling with faith, imperfection, and the weight of history. Through vivid scenes of crumbling mansions, starving masses, and clandestine meetings, the narrative weaves a tapestry of rebellion and redemption, where the seeds of a revolutionary religious figure—Shinran—are sown. Blending historical grandeur with intimate introspection, this tale invites readers into a world where divine purpose clashes with human frailty, and the echoes of one man’s quest for truth resonate across centuries.