Nembutsu - Buddhist prayer

Japanese: 念仏 - ねんぶつ
Nembutsu - Buddhist prayer

Usually, it means to chant the name of Amida Buddha. There are various types of chanting, such as Hosshin Nembutsu, which contemplates the Buddha's true nature, Kanso Nembutsu, which contemplates the Buddha's merits and appearance, and Shomyo Nembutsu, which chant the Buddha's name aloud. In Japan, Kanso Nembutsu was the mainstream at first, but from around the 10th century, Shomyo Nembutsu gradually became more popular, and with the appearance of Honen, who rejected contemplation, Nembutsu came to mean chanting Namu Amida Butsu. In the Jodo sect, senju nembutsu is emphasized, while in the Jodo Shinshu sect, faith in Amida's original vow and other power is emphasized, and in the Ji sect, the supremacy of the name of Amida is emphasized. On the other hand, in folk society, nembutsu has long been believed to have the functions of memorializing, expiating sins, and pacifying the souls of the dead, and was used at the time of death, funerals, memorial services, and events held during the equinox and Bon festivals. Folk nembutsu, which has been turned into performing arts, remains in various places.

[Ito Yuima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

ふつう阿弥陀仏を念ずること。仏の実相を観ずる法身念仏(ほっしんねんぶつ)、仏の功徳や相好を思い浮かべる観想念仏(かんそうねんぶつ)、仏の名を口に称える称名念仏(しょうみょうねんぶつ)などがある。日本では当初は観想念仏が中心だったが、10世紀頃からしだいに称名念仏が盛んとなり、観想を否定した法然の登場などによって、念仏といえば南無阿弥陀仏(なむあみだぶつ)と称えることをさすようになった。浄土宗では専修(せんじゅ)念仏を、浄土真宗では弥陀の本願他力(たりき)への信を強調し、時宗では名号(みょうごう)至上主義を特色とする。他面、民俗社会では早くより、念仏には追善・滅罪や死霊鎮魂の機能があるとされ、臨終や葬送、追善の仏事、彼岸や盆の行事などに用いられた。また芸能化した民俗念仏が各地に残留している。

[伊藤唯真]

出典 小学館 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について 情報 | 凡例

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