Articles

Features of Confessional Government Policy in Japan during the 7th–8th Centuries (as Evidenced by the Code “Soniryo”)

Vostok/Oriens '2013, №3

 
This study is devoted to a problem of the Japanese government confessional policy towards Buddhism in the 7th–8th centuries. It is based on analysis of separate articles from the special legislative code “Soniryo” (“Rules and restrictions for nuns and monks”), entered by the government for control on Buddhist Sangha. It was a part of the uniform code of laws “Taihoryo” made on the basis of the Chinese legislative statutes of the periods Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) and accepted in Japan at the end of the 7th century. The ritsuryo government tried to include Buddhist Sangha into the frameworks of Confucian legislative system putting on the first place its service to society. Having received privileges of the state officials, Buddhist monks and nuns should have concerned their service to the state as a personal obligation.

Keywords: Buddhist Sangha, “Soniryo”, “Taihoryo”, ritsuryo government

Pages: С. 22–28