日本平安時代的官方讀經與宮廷信仰活動——以季御讀經的成立與轉變為線索

Official Sutra-Recitation and Court Religious Practice in Japan’s Heian Period: Tracing the Establishment and Transformation of the Seasonal Imperial Sutra-Recitation

本文以日本平安時代（794–1185）的「季御讀經」為線索，探討官方讀經儀式與宮廷信仰活動之間的互動。以轉讀《大般若經》為核心的季御讀經，根據《延喜式》規範，是為祈求國家安泰，於春秋二季在宮中特定空間舉行的官方讀經儀式。透過對平安時代史料的細緻考察，本文發現此儀式並非靜態不變，而是經歷了一系列轉變。研究顯示，自10世紀以降，季御讀經的儀式逐漸逸出國家的嚴格規範，展現宮廷信仰活動的特徵。主辦權限從天皇獨有，擴展至皇后（中宮）、皇太子（東宮）等不同權力者，儀式主體轉趨多元。其次，從象徵國家權力的大極殿、紫宸殿舉行，轉移至天皇日常起居的清涼殿，甚至宮外的比叡山等宗教場所，顯示儀式空間的延伸及變化。而轉讀經典的擴增更是顯著，在《大般若經》之外，納入了反映個人延壽祈願的《壽命經》。
上述變化不僅反映宮廷內部權力轉向多元的政治現實，亦展現宮廷成員的個人信仰需求如何重塑國家級的儀式框架。因此，季御讀經不僅是官方讀經，也是被靈活應用的儀式實踐，為理解平安時代的政教關係與宮廷信仰文化提供新的切入點。

This paper focuses on the Ki no Midokyō(Seasonal Imperial Sutra- Recitation) practice to explore the dynamic relationship between official sutrarecitation rituals and court religious practices during the Heian period in Japan. According to the regulations in the Engishiki, the Seasonal Imperial Sutra- Recitation, which primarily involved the chanting of the Great PrajñāPāramitāSūtra (Daihannyakyō), was an official ritual conducted in designated palace spaces during spring and autumn, to pray for the peace and security of the nation. However, a detailed examination of Heian period historical sources reveals that this ceremonial practice was not static but underwent a series of profound transformations. This study finds that, from the tenth century onward, the ritual practices of the Imperial Sutra-Recitation gradually transcended strict state regulations, demonstrating characteristics of significant court religious activities. The ritual’s sponsorship diversified, expanding from being exclusive to the emperor to including other powerful figures such as the empress (chūgū) and the crown prince (tōgū). The ritual’s location also shifted and expanded, moving from state-symbolic venues, such as the Daigokuden and Shishinden, to the emperor’s private quarters in the Seiryōden, and even to religious sites outside the palace, such as Mount Hiei. Furthermore, there was a notable expansion of the sutras chanted; besides the core Daihannyakyō, other texts, such as the Sūtra on Longevity (Jumyōkyō), which offered personal prayers for long life, were incorporated. The evolution of the Seasonal Imperial Sutra-Recitation clearly illustrates the interaction between official Heian period ceremonial practices and individual religious beliefs. This change not only reflects the political reality of power shifting from a singular to a pluralistic structure within the court but also demonstrates how the personal spiritual needs of court members reshaped the framework of state-level rituals. Therefore, Seasonal Imperial Sutra-Recitation was not merely an official ritual but a flexible ritual practice that offers a new perspective for understanding the relationship between state and religion and court religious culture in the Heian period.