wasan

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Wasan (和讃) are a type of Japanese Buddhist hymn composed in native Japanese language (wago).{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001}} The word is meant to distinguish Japanese hymns from those composed in Sanskrit (bonsan 梵讃) or Chinese (kansan 漢讃).{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001}} These works sing of the teachings and deeds of buddhas, bodhisattvas and {{illm|Soshi (founder)|lt=soshi|ja|開祖}} (the founders of schools of monks).{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001|2a1=MyPaedia|2y=2015}} They are composed in verses of alternating seven and five syllables, with each hymn consisting of four or more such verses.{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001|2a1=MyPaedia|2y=2015}} They were composed from the addition of a melody to a Buddhist service (法会 hōe) or teaching (教化 kyōke),{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001}} and became popular starting in the Heian period.{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001|2a1=MyPaedia|2y=2015}} These hymns in colloquial Japanese played an important part in the spread of Buddhism throughout Japan and among the members of the lower classes.{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001}} The Fusō Ryakki includes a hymn composed by Gyōki extolling the virtues of the Buddhist dharma, which is a valuable tool for understanding the function of wasan.{{sfnm|1a1=Kitanishi|1y=2001}} Wasan fell out of popularity during the Edo period.{{sfnm|1a1=MyPaedia|1y=2015}}

See also

References

= Citations =

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= Works cited =

{{Refbegin|colwidth=80em}}

  • {{cite encyclopedia

|encyclopedia = Encyclopedia Nipponica

|last1 = Kitanishi

|first1 = Hiromu

|author-link1 = Hiromu Kitanishi

|title = Wasan

|script-title = ja:和讃

|language = japanese

|year = 2001

|publisher = Shogakukan

|url = https://kotobank.jp/word/和讃-154037#E6.97.A5.E6.9C.AC.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E5.85.A8.E6.9B.B8.28.E3.83.8B.E3.83.83.E3.83.9D.E3.83.8B.E3.82.AB.29

|access-date = 2018-12-30

}}

  • {{cite encyclopedia

|encyclopedia = MyPaedia

|title = Wasan

|script-title = ja:和讃

|language = japanese

|year = 2015

|publisher = Heibonsha

|url = https://kotobank.jp/word/和讃-154037#E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E4.BA.8B.E5.85.B8.E3.83.9E.E3.82.A4.E3.83.9A.E3.83.87.E3.82.A3.E3.82.A2

|access-date = 2018-12-30

|ref = {{SfnRef|MyPaedia|2015}}

}}

{{Refend}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Buddhist poetry

Category:Japanese Buddhist literature

Category:Hymns