The Hokke Senbō Described in the Hokke genki

Abstract

This paper focuses on the description of the Hokke senbō 法華懺法 （Lotus Repentance Liturgy） in the Hokke genki 法華験記 （Honchō Hokke Genki 本朝法華験記, 1040-1043） edited by Chin’gen 鎮源, and examines its characteristics with other sources to understand how the Hokke senbō was practiced and what kind of ritual it was recognized as in the middle Heian period 平安中期. It is highly likely that the Hokke senbō in the Hokke genki was not only a ritual based on the Lotus Sūtra but was also recognized as a ritual in which practitioners could wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land 西方極楽浄土. Moreover, the Hokke senbō in Hokke genki was practiced with the Mida nenbutsu 弥陀念仏, and it was recognized not only as practitioners’ own practice, but also as a last rites ritual 臨終行儀 or memorial ritual 追善儀礼 for the deceased.