Buddha's Birthday - Kanbutsu-e

April 8th is a Buddhist ceremony to celebrate the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha, in which statues are irrigated (by pouring water over them to purify them). It is also called the Bussho-e, Koutane, or Yokubutsue, and is commonly known as the Hanamatsuri. In reference to the legend that the Dragon King poured perfume on Shakyamuni Buddha when he was born, the newborn Buddha is enshrined in a flower hall, and fragrant water or sweet tea is poured over it while chanting the kanbutsuge (a verse to irrigate the Buddha). The newborn Buddha is a standing statue pointing to the sky with his right hand and the earth with his left hand, representing the declaration made by Shakyamuni when he was born: "I am the only one in heaven and earth." The Buddha's birth irrigation is listed as one of the eight characteristics of Shakyamuni (eight characteristics that Shakyamuni showed during his life in order to teach others), and is known to have been widely practiced in India based on old stone carvings, and Buddha's birthday ceremonies were also popular in India and the Western Regions. It was also practiced in China during the Three Kingdoms period, and became popular during the Tang and Song dynasties. It is said that it has been practiced in Japan since the reign of Empress Suiko (592-628). A Buddha's birthday irrigation ceremony was held at the Imperial Court in 840 (Jowa 7), and later spread to ordinary temples.

It is said that in the future, Bodhisattva Maitreya will descend from Tushita Heaven and be born, and attain enlightenment under the Dragon Flower Tree, and this ceremony is also called Dragon Flower Ceremony, as it is a ceremony held to await his appearance.

[Yoshinobu Nakao]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

4月8日、釈迦牟尼仏(しゃかむにぶつ)の降誕日を祝い、仏像を灌沐(かんもく)（水を注ぎ洗い清める）する仏教の儀式。仏生会(ぶっしょうえ)、降誕会(こうたんえ)、浴仏会(よくぶつえ)ともいい、一般には花祭(はなまつり)とよんでいる。釈迦降誕のとき竜王が香水を注いだという伝説にちなみ、花御堂(はなみどう)の中に誕生仏を安置し、灌仏偈(かんぶつげ)を唱えながら香湯または甘茶を注ぐ。誕生仏は右手で天を、左手で地をさした立像で、釈迦が降誕した際に「天上天下唯我独尊(てんじょうてんげゆいがどくそん)」と宣告したという相を表している。仏誕の灌沐は、釈迦八相(はっそう)（釈迦が教化(きょうけ)のため一生の間に示した8種の相）の一にあげられ、インドでも古い石刻などによって広く行われたことが伝えられており、また灌仏会もインド、西域(せいいき)で盛んに行われた。中国でも三国時代に行われており、唐(とう)・宋(そう)代に盛んとなった。日本では推古(すいこ)朝（592～628）から行われていたともいう。840年（承和7）には宮中で灌仏会が行われ、のち一般寺院へも普及した。

　なお、将来の世に弥勒菩薩(みろくぼさつ)が兜率天(とそつてん)から下り生まれて、竜華樹(りゅうげじゅ)の下で悟りを開くといわれ、その出現を待つ法会という意味で竜華会ともいう。

［中尾良信］

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