Tokudo

To be able to go beyond the world of delusion and into the world of enlightenment. The word 'do' is a translation of the Sanskrit word 'tārayati', which means to cross over. By extension, it means that a lay person shaves his head, becomes a monk, and becomes a priest. According to the 32nd volume of the 'Shibunritsu', in India, a person could become a monk with the permission of his parents, but those under the age of 12 could not become a priest. The precepts received at the time of becoming a priest were the Five Precepts (not to kill, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to lie, and not to drink alcohol). At the age of 20, a bhikkhu (monk) received the full precepts of 250 precepts, and a bhikkuni (nun) received the full precepts of 348 precepts. In China, a person who only became a priest was called a novice, and was distinguished from a person who received the full precepts and became a monk. In Japan, a person who has been ordained is called a monk, or is also called a jōza (a person in the highest seat of authority). Under the Ritsuryo system, one needed official permission to become a monk or nun, and those who ordained on their own were called jidō (personal or private).

[Kawaguchi Takakaze]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

迷いの世界を超えて悟りの世界に渡りうること。度とは、サンスクリット語のターラヤティtārayatiの訳語で、渡ることである。なお、これより転じて、在家者が剃髪(ていはつ)し、出家して僧となることをいう。『四分律(しぶんりつ)』巻32によれば、インドでは、父母の許しがあれば出家できたが、12歳未満者は得度できない。得度のとき受ける戒律は、五戒（不殺生(ふせっしょう)、不偸盗(ふちゅうとう)、不邪婬(ふじゃいん)、不妄語(ふもうご)、不飲酒(ふおんしゅ)）を保つことで、20歳になると、比丘(びく)は二五〇戒、比丘尼は三四八戒を保つ具足戒(ぐそくかい)を受けた。中国では、得度しただけの者は沙弥(しゃみ)といい、具足戒を受けて僧となった者とは区別された。日本では、得度しただけで僧といわれるが、また上座(じょうざ)ともいわれる。律令(りつりょう)制では、得度して僧尼になるには官許を必要とし、かってに得度したものを自度、私度と称した。

［川口高風］

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