Katsu

A loud and powerful voice, a voice that scolds others, or the act of uttering such a voice. In Zen Buddhism, since the Tang Dynasty in China, it has been used with various meanings, and was widely used as a means for teachers to show their students the secrets of Zen that were beyond the reach of words (explaining Buddhism through words). It is said to have started between the master and disciple, Daoyi Mazu and Baizhang Huaihai, and was praised alongside "Oubaku Kiun's stick" and "Rinzai Gigen's shout" as a way to show a state of enlightenment that went beyond words and thought. In particular, among the disciples of the Rinzai sect, it was summarized as an institution (means of guidance) called the "Rinzai Shikatsu" and was used as a guide for training. Later, it was also used for leading the disciple to the final rites at funerals.

[Rikiyama Ishikawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

勢いのよい大きな声、人を叱咤(しった)する声、またその声を発すること。禅宗では中国唐代以降、種々の意味をもって使用され、師が言詮(ごんせん)（言語をもって仏法を説き明かすこと）の及ばぬ禅の極意(ごくい)を弟子に示すための方便として盛んに用いられた。その始まりは馬祖道一(ばそどういつ)・百丈懐海(ひゃくじょうえかい)の師資（師弟）間に行われたとされ、「黄檗希運(おうばくきうん)の棒」「臨済義玄(りんざいぎげん)の喝」と並び称され、言語、思慮を超えた悟境を示す手段とされた。とくに臨済宗門下では、「臨済四喝(りんざいしかつ)」とよばれる機関（指導の手段）としてまとめられ、修行の指標とされた。のちには葬儀の際の引導(いんどう)にも用いられるようになった。

［石川力山］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例