Nio-kai - Ninnoue

It is also called the Nio Prajna-e, Nio Sutra-e, or Hyakuza Nio-e. Based on the Nio Sutra, one of the three sutras for the protection of the nation, this imperial ceremony involved the preparation of 100 scrolls of Buddha and Bodhisattva statues and 100 high seats, and the invitation of 100 high priests to pray for the protection of the nation and the happiness of all people. The first one was held in May 660 (the 6th year of the reign of Empress Saimei), and it is known from the Shoku Nihongi and Shosoin documents that it was held many times during the Nara period. In particular, during this period, the Nio Eshi was established, and new copies of the Nio Sutra and images of the Five Great Powers and 100 Buddha statues were made. High seats were set up in the Heijo Palace Palace, the two capitals of the left and right, the Kinai region, and temples in various provinces, and the Nio Sutra was lectured on a set date and time. During the Heian period, the first one was held in September 794 (Enryaku 13) at Heian Shingu Shrine, where 100 priests were invited, and it was widely held thereafter. The main event in June 834 (Jowa 1) was held on 100 platforms set up in Shishinden and Joneiden, as well as in the government buildings of the eight provinces and even within Rajomon Gate, and the Nio-e in April 860 (Jogan 2) was held twice a day, morning and evening, with 69 platforms set up within the capital and 31 outside the capital. After that, it seems to have been institutionalized as an imperial ceremony held once per emperor's lifetime, and in the case of May 986 (Kanwa 2) in the "Honcho Seiki," it was called the "Once in a Lifetime Dainiou-e," and prayers were held at 32 high seats throughout Kyoto, including the Seiryoden, Shishinden, and Daigokuden halls of the Imperial Palace, and at other temples in the Kinai region. A detailed description is given in the "Engishiki" under the headings of the Zushoryo and Genba-ryo. In addition to this, there were also occasions when it was held on an ad-hoc basis. Special Nio-e ceremonies were held in times of drought, epidemics, and natural disasters, and by the mid-Heian period, Nio-e ceremonies were held in the two seasons of the year (April and October) (see Saigu-ki, Ononomiya Annual Events, Gyokuyo, etc.), and it is known from sources such as Todai-ji Yoroku and Toho-ki that it had become an established annual event at various large temples.

[Horiike Harumo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仁王般若会(はんにゃえ)、仁王経会、百座仁王会ともいう。護国三部経の一つである『仁王経』をよりどころとして、100幅の仏菩薩(ぶつぼさつ)像と100の高座をしつらえ、100人の高僧を請(しょう)じて鎮護国家、万民幸福などを祈願した勅会(ちょくえ)。660年（斉明天皇6）5月に行われたのが最初で、奈良時代に至っては再三祈修されたことが『続日本紀(しょくにほんぎ)』『正倉院文書』などで判明する。ことに当代では仁王会司（所）が設けられて、『仁王経』の書写や五大力尊などや100仏像の画像が新写され、平城宮安殿・左右二京・畿内(きない)や諸国の寺々に高座を設け、日時を決めて『仁王経』が講説された。平安時代には794年（延暦13）9月に平安新宮で100法師を請じて行われたのが最初で、以後盛んに行われた。834年（承和1）6月の当会は、紫宸殿(ししんでん)・常寧(じょうねい)殿をはじめとして八省の官衙(かんが)諸堂から羅城門(らじょうもん)内にも及んで100高座が設けられて行われ、860年（貞観2）4月の仁王会は、都内69所、都外に31所の高座を設けて朝夕2回にわたって行われた。以後、天皇一代一度の勅会として制度化したようで、『本朝世紀』の986年（寛和2）5月の場合には「一代一度の大仁王会」と称し、宮中清涼殿(せいりょうでん)・紫宸殿・大極殿などをはじめとして京都中に32所の高座を設け、ほかは畿内諸国の寺々で祈修された。『延喜式(えんぎしき)』図書(ずしょ)寮と玄蕃(げんば)寮の項に精細な記載がある。このほかに臨時に行われる場合があった。水旱(すいかん)、流行病や天災の鎮圧などのときは臨時仁王会が行われたし、また平安時代中期ころには、春秋二季（4月・10月）に仁王会が行われたことが『西宮記(さいぐうき)』『小野宮(おののみや)年中行事』『玉葉(ぎょくよう)』などによって判明し、また諸大寺でも年中行事の一つとして定着していたことが『東大寺要録』『東宝記』などによって窺知(きち)される。

［堀池春峰］

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