Big Dipper method

Japanese: 北斗七星法 - ほくとしちしょうほう

Also called Hokuto-ho or Hokuto-ku, this is a ritual in which the Big Dipper, a single-character golden wheel, is offered to ward off disasters such as natural disasters, epidemics, and early death, and to pray for good health and long life. In contrast to the Honmiyoshoku, which offers a memorial service for a person's honmi-seisho (star of life) to bring good fortune, this ritual offers all seven stars. It is a secret ritual that is highly valued in the Shingon and Tendai schools of Buddhism. A day when the moonlight is fading is chosen, a Hokuto Mandala (star mandala) is hung as the principal image, seven streams of flags and 14 offerings (three streams of flags and six offerings for a simplified ceremony) are set up on the large platform, and the area is decorated with rice, candles, etc., and memorial services are held for the Big Dipper, the star of the year, the honmi-seisho (star of life), the nine stars of the month, the twelve zodiac signs, the honmi-shuku (star of life), and the 28 zodiacs.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

北斗法，北斗供ともいう。天変，疫病，夭死などの災を除き，息災延命を祈願するために，一字金輪北斗七星を供養する修法のこと。個人の求福のためにその人の本命星を供養する本命星供（ほんみようしようく）に対し，本法は七星全部を供養する。真言宗，天台宗寺門派で重視される秘法である。月光の減じた日を選び，本尊として北斗曼荼羅(星曼荼羅)を懸け，大壇上に幡7流･幣14本(略儀には幡3流･幣6本)を立て，飯･ろうそくなどで荘厳し，北斗七星，当年星，本命星･九曜，生月宮･十二宮，本命宿･二十八宿の供養を行う。

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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