Dharma-śāstra (English spelling)

Japanese: ダルマ･シャーストラ（英語表記）dharma‐śāstra

A general term for a group of documents on law created in India, usually translated as "law codes." Also called the Hindu Code. In the narrow sense, it refers to a group of documents called "dharma shastras" or "smriti" (memory books), such as the "Manu Code" and the "Yajnavalkya Code," which were created between the 2nd century BC and the 5th century AD. Regarding "dharma," a group of documents called the "dharma sutras" (law sutras) had already been created in addition to the Brahmanic holy book, the Vedas, and they stipulated the rights and obligations of each of the four classes (varnas) that make up Brahmanic society, as well as the rules of daily life.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

インドで作られた〈法〉に関する文献群の総称で，通例〈法典〉と訳す。〈ヒンドゥー法典〉とも呼ばれる。狭義には，前2世紀から後5世紀にわたって成立した《マヌ法典》《ヤージュニャバルキヤ法典》など，〈ダルマ･シャーストラ〉あるいは〈スムリティ〉(憶伝書)の名をもつ一群の文献をさす。　〈法(ダルマ)〉に関しては，すでにダルマ･スートラ(律法経)と称する文献群がバラモン教の聖典ベーダに付随して成立しており，バラモン教社会を構成する4階級(バルナ)それぞれの権利･義務や日常の生活法を規定していた。

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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