写経Shakyō (sutra copying)

Sutra copying (Chinese: 抄經, chāojīng; Japanese: 写経, shakyō) is the East Asian practice of hand-copying Buddhist sutras.

Sutra copying involves the meticulous hand-transcription of Buddhist scriptures as an act of devotion, study, meditation, and merit-making. This tradition dates back to Indian Mahayana Buddhism which saw the practice of copying sutras as highly meritorious. Practitioners engage in this process to generate merit, cultivate mindfulness, calm concentration, deepen their understanding of the Buddhist teachings and preserve the Buddhist Dharma for future generations.

In East Asian Mahayana traditions, sutra copying remains a prominent practice. Commonly copied texts include the Heart Sutra and Amitābha Sūtra, due to their short length and doctrinal significance. Today, the practice is still popular among lay and monastic communities, with some temples offering it as a meditative activity for visitors.

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