Articles

The Buddhist Sutras Text’s Perception in the Japanese Literary Tradition Setsuwa Bungaku (VIII–XIII Centuries)

Vostok/Oriens '2014, №6

 
The article analyses the problem of the Buddhist sutras text’s perception in the Japanese literary tradition setsuwa bungaku. The objects of study were the stories about “Lotus Sutra” in the following sources: “Nihon ryoiki” (“Records of the Numinous and Strange from Japan”, VIII–IX centuries), ‘Records of the miracles performed the “Lotus Sutra” in the great country of Japan’ (“Dainihonkoku hokekyō kenki”, abbreviated as “Hokke kenki”, XI c.), and “The Tales from Uji (“Uji Shui Monogatari”, XIII c.). The “Lotus Sutra” in these stories of setsuwa bungaku appears not only as a sacred text, but also as an object of worship like the relics and statues of Buddha. In the narrative texts of setsuwa “Lotus Sutra” had such a magical power that could be perceived as a separate deity. Therefore the process of reading and rewriting the “Lotus Sutra” described in setsuwa bungaku should be understood as a mystical ritual, during which the human could directly contact with supernatural powers visually (perception of hieroglyphs sutras), verbal (recitation of sutras) and physically (transcribing Sutra).

Keywords: setsuwa bungaku, “Lotus Sutra”, “Nihon ryoiki”, “Hokke Kenki”,“Uji Shui Monogatari”

Pages: С. 18–23