Seasonal Sutra Reading - Kinomidokyo

Japanese: 季御読経 - きのみどきょう

One of the annual Buddhist events held at the Imperial Court. It is a ceremony in which the monks recite the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra twice a year, in February and August, at the Imperial Court. It is said to have originated on April 8, 729 (Tenpyo 1), and has been held annually since the Jogan period (859-877). It was also held at Fujiwara no Michinaga's residence during the regent period, and Michinaga's diary, Mido Kanpakuki, refers to the events at the Imperial Court as "seasonal sutra reading" and those at Michinaga's residence as "seasonal sutra reading." In the Heian period, it was often held for four days, with tea being offered to monks and attendants on the second day, and debates being held on the third day.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

宮廷仏教年中行事の一つ。宮中において毎年春秋の二季，2月と8月，衆僧によって大般若経を転読する儀式。729年(天平1)4月8日が起源と伝えられ，貞観(859‐877)のころより，毎年行われていたという。また，摂関期には藤原道長の邸においても行われており，道長の日記《御堂関白記》には，宮中の行事を季御読経，道長邸のそれを季読経と書いている。また，平安時代には，4日間行われることが多く，2日目に引茶（ひきちや）を僧および侍臣等にたまうことがあり，3日目は論義を行っている。

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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