Heart Sutra Society - Shingyoe

Japanese: 心経会 - しんぎょうえ

A ceremony to recite the Heart Sutra. Since the Nara period in Japan, when natural disasters, famines, or epidemics occurred, the Great Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Diamond Sutra were recited at the Imperial Court and at various large temples to ward off disasters and bring good fortune, and were considered important as ceremonies to protect the country. This shows one form of acceptance of the Prajnaparamita Sutra in Japan, and the Heart Sutra has also been recited since the Heian period to ward off disasters and bring good fortune. Although the Heart Sutra is a small sutra, it is thought to be extremely effective, and the merit of copying and reciting it was particularly expected as a ``miracle cure for illness.''

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

《般若心経》を読誦する法会。日本では奈良時代以降，天災地異，飢饉疫疾がおきると，攘災招福のため《大般若経》《金剛般若経》などが宮中や諸大寺で読誦され，護国の法要として重視された。日本における般若経典受容の一形態を示すものであるが，《般若心経》もまた平安時代以降攘災招福のため読誦された。《般若心経》は小部な経典ではあるが効験は著しいと考えられ，とくに〈疾病之妙薬〉として，その写経読誦の功徳が期待された。

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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