Dharanis, Talismans, and Straw-Dolls: Ritual Choreographies and Healing Strategies of the "Rokujikyōhō" in Medieval Japan

This article proposes a reconstruction and analysis of the rokujikyōhō (Ritual of the six-syllable sutra), a complex healing liturgy that enjoyed great popularity in Japan between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries. Performed by an assembly of Buddhist monks and onmyōji (yin-yang masters), the rit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Japanese journal of religious studies
Main Author: Lomi, Benedetta (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Nanzan Institute [2014]
In: Japanese journal of religious studies
Further subjects:B Sacred Texts
B Buddhism
B Deities
B Monks
B Religious Studies
B Boats
B Purification rituals
B Harae
B Syllables
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This article proposes a reconstruction and analysis of the rokujikyōhō (Ritual of the six-syllable sutra), a complex healing liturgy that enjoyed great popularity in Japan between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries. Performed by an assembly of Buddhist monks and onmyōji (yin-yang masters), the ritual used various techniques, such as talismans, hitokata, incantations, and medicinal remedies, which provided a comprehensive solution to different types of ailments. In this article I discuss their characteristics, as well as their relationship, to argue that their conflation into a single practice may be underpinned by a layered understanding of the cause and nature of pollution and diseases.
Contains:Enthalten in: Japanese journal of religious studies