Dharma language - Hogo

Originally it meant words spoken in accordance with the correct principles of Buddhism. In Japan, it refers to Buddhist writings written in kana, as opposed to writings written in classical Chinese. When attempts were made to understand Buddhism in Japanese, in relation to the reality of Japan and the lives of the Japanese people, the legal language written in kana was created. The earliest example of legal language written in kana is the "Yokawa Legal Language," said to have been written by Genshin, but it was not until the Kamakura period, when Buddhism began to be preached to the general public, that legal language began to be actively created. Representative works include Honen's "Ichimai Kishomon," Shinran's collection of sayings "Tannisho," the "Sayings of Ippen Shonin" which includes the Buddhist teachings of Ippen, Dogen's "Shobogenzo," Nichiren's writings, "The Teachings of Toganoo Myoe" and "Ichigon Hodan," as well as the teachings of Muju that he taught especially to women in the "Tsumakyo," Shoken's (Koa's) "Sanbu Kanasho," and Rennyo's "Ofumi."

[Hiroyuki Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

本来は仏法の正しい道理にのっとって語られたことばの意。日本では、漢文による述作に対し、仮名文による仏教の述作をいう。仏法を日本の現実や日本人の生活に即してとらえ、日本語で仏法を語ろうとしたとき、仮名文による法語が成立した。仮名法語のもっとも早いものに、源信(げんしん)作と伝える『横川(よかわ)法語』があるが、盛んにつくられるようになったのは、民衆を対象に仏法が説かれるようになった鎌倉時代以後である。代表的作品には、法然(ほうねん)の『一枚起請文(いちまいきしょうもん)』、親鸞(しんらん)の語録『歎異抄(たんにしょう)』、一遍(いっぺん)の消息法語を含む『一遍上人(しょうにん)語録』、道元(どうげん)の『正法眼蔵(しょうぼうげんぞう)』、日蓮(にちれん)遺文、『栂尾明恵(とがのおみょうえ)上人遺訓(いくん)』、『一言芳談(いちごんほうだん)』、無住がとくに婦人に示した法語『妻鏡』、証賢（向阿(こうあ)）の『三部仮名鈔(さんぶかなしょう)』、蓮如(れんにょ)の『御文(おふみ)』などがある。

［伊藤博之］

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