upanayana

Japanese: upanayana

...The term took on the meaning of "status" and "class," and even after intermarriage and skin color ceased to be a sign of status, the term continued to be used to mean "status" and "class." The top three of the four varnas were called the "dvija" (rebirth class), and boys who belonged to this class were initiated (upanayana (second birth)) at around the age of 10 and were given the right to participate in Vedic rituals as members of Aryan society. In contrast, the Shudras were considered to be "ekaja" (lifelong class) who could not be initiated, and suffered various religious, social, and economic discrimination from the "dvija" (rebirth class).

From [Varna]

...Of the four varnas, the top three are called the reborn race (dvija), and share three common duties: performing rituals for themselves, studying the Vedic scriptures, and making donations. Boys belonging to the reborn race undergo upanayana (initiation, second birth) around the age of 10, and are given the right to participate in Vedic rituals as members of Aryan society. In contrast, the Shudras were considered to be ekaja (those who are only born from the womb), who could not undergo initiation, and suffered various forms of discrimination from the reborn race.

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "upanayana" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…この語に〈身分〉〈階級〉の意味が加わり，混血が進み肌の色が身分を示す標識でなくなったあとにおいても，この語は依然として〈身分〉〈階級〉の意味に使われ続けたのである。4バルナのうち上位の3バルナは再生族(ドビジャdvija)と呼ばれ，これに属する男子は10歳前後に入門式(ウパナヤナupanayana(2度目の誕生))を挙げ，アーリヤ社会の一員としてベーダの祭式に参加する資格が与えられる。これに対しシュードラは入門式を挙げることのできない一生族(エーカジャekaja)とされ，再生族から宗教上，社会上，経済上のさまざまな差別を受けた。…

【バルナ】より

…以上の4バルナのうち上位3バルナは再生族(ドゥビジャdvija)と称され，自分のための祭式挙行，ベーダ聖典の学習，布施の三つを共通の義務としている。再生族に属する男子は10歳前後にウパナヤナupanayana(入門式，2度目の誕生)をあげ，アーリヤ社会の一員としてベーダの祭式に参加する資格が与えられる。これに対しシュードラは入門式をあげることができない一生族(エーカジャekaja，母胎から生まれるだけの者)とされ，再生族からさまざまな差別を受けた。…

※「upanayana」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

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