Gosai-e

Also called "Misaie." This was a Buddhist ceremony held at the Imperial Palace. For seven days from January 8th to January 14th, monks offered sacred food at the Daigokuden and lectured on the Konkomyo Saisho-okyo Sutra to pray for the peace of the nation and a good harvest. The lectures on the sutra began as early as 680 (the 9th year of Emperor Tenmu's reign), but the Misaie was established in 768 (the 2nd year of Jingo Keiun) during the reign of Emperor Shotoku. In 813 (the 4th year of Kōnin), an internal debate was held in which the text of the sutra was discussed in front of the emperor on the day the ceremony concluded. It was a regular New Year's event at the Imperial Palace, but was discontinued during the Muromachi period. It is counted as one of the three Nanjing assemblies along with the Yuimae and Saisho-e assemblies. It is the counterpart of the Goshichinichi no Mishiho, a secret Shingon Buddhist ceremony, in terms of exoteric and esoteric Buddhism.

[Fukiko Nishiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「みさいえ」ともいう。宮中で行われた法会。正月8日から14日までの7日間、国家安寧(あんねい)、五穀豊穰を祈って大極殿(だいごくでん)で僧に斎食(さいしょく)を供養(くよう)し、『金光明最勝王経(こんこうみょうさいしょうおうきょう)』を講ぜしめたもの。経の講始は680年（天武天皇9）と早いが、斎会の成立は768年（神護景雲2）称徳(しょうとく)天皇のときである。813年（弘仁4）にはこの法会の結願(けちがん)の日に天皇の御前で経文の論議を行う内論議(うちろんぎ)が設けられた。新年恒例の宮中行事であったが、室町時代に中絶した。維摩会(ゆいまえ)、最勝会(さいしょうえ)とともに南京(なんきょう)三会の一に数えられた。真言秘密の法会(ほうえ)である後七日御修法(ごしちにちのみしほ)と顕密(けんみつ)相対する。

［西山蕗子］

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