關於黃檗宗第三祖慧林性機(1609-1681)之研究,因學界內部尚未對其生平、著述進行編年與集結工作,故相關成果乏善可陳。本次藉由台灣佛光大學佛教研究中心專題計畫之惠予,有幸前往日本東京國立國會圖書館、駒澤大學,京都黃檗山萬福寺文華殿,與長崎歷史文化博物館三處館藏地,進行善本文獻調查,始見慧林禪師語錄三種、詩集二種,與相關史傳雜記若干。通過已出版的諸部渡日華僧人全集,及以相關黃檗僧家著述之比勘分析,一則將可望為慧林性機進行更深入而細緻的生平繫年,聊供拋磚引玉之資,二則對於已出版的數種全集所附年譜,亦可以提供校正與補闕。
The life and works of Erinshōki, the third patriarch of the Japanese Obaku Zen tradition, have not been fully studied by scholars. As a member of the research project undertaken by the Center for Buddhist Studies of Fo Guang University, I was able to survey rare classical documents held in the National Diet Library in Tokyo, Komazawa University, Obakusan Manpukuji Bunkaden in Kyoto and the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture. I discovered three of Erinshōki's recorded sayings works, two poetry anthologies and various other relevant works such as memoirs or historical works. By analyzing the published anthologies of Chinese Buddhists resident in Japan and comparing them with relevant writings of other Buddhists in the Obaku Zen tradition, I have been able to create a more detailed biography of Erinshōki's life, and further provide corrections to chronological biographies included in previously published anthologies of his collected works.