Kosan - Kosan

Japanese: 香讃 - こうさん

The title of a Shomyo song. Also called Kouge. A Shomyo song at the beginning of a memorial service, incense is burned to offer to the deities and to purify the dojo. It is used in Zen and Pure Land sects, and corresponds to Sange and Kuyomon in other sects. Inferring from Sange, there should be an action of burning incense to accompany the Shomyo, but this action is not included. There are several songs, such as Kouge, which burn incense while burning the Dharma Realm, Kouge, which burn incense while burning the treasure in the cauldron, and Kuyomon, which burn incense while burning the treasure in the cauldron, but there is no individual title for each song. When they are referred to separately, they are called by the first character, such as Kouge.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

声明（しようみよう）曲の曲名。また分類名。〈香偈（こうげ）〉とも称する。法要の導入部において，香をたいて諸尊に献じ，道場を清める意をあらわす声明曲。禅系，浄土系の宗派で用い，他の宗派の《散花（さんげ）》《供養文（くようもん）》に相当する。《散花》から類推すれば，声明に合わせて香をたく所作があってもよいわけだが，その所作はない。〈炉香乍爇法界蒙重……〉〈香纔爇炉焚宝鼎中……〉〈願我身浄如香炉……〉など数曲あるが，個別の曲名はなく，特に呼び分ける場合は〈炉香〉などと最初の字句で呼ぶ。

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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