The "Shodo-geino (folk arts for propagation)" in the medieval ages as the consciousness of the times(Papers Read at the 31th National Congress)

Abstract

In the medieval ages of Japan, there were many advocates who propagated the faith in Pureland-buddhism with the performance of "Nenbutsu" -dance and other performing arts. But these arts were folk arts, and had no religious character in themselves. We must therefore seek the religious of folk arts that were performed by advocates not in the problem of effectiveness for propaganda but in the innerreligious senses of advocates. They desired to relinquish the privileged self-consciousness as priest by means of performance of folk arts that were at that time regarded as a function of social outcast. And in this secular impurity they hoped to realize the necessity of redemption by faith alone. In this religious sense that was included in the folk arts of advocates we can see the character of faith in the medieval ages that was related to the formation of "New-Kamakura" -buddhism.