Hōgō-Sutra

Hōgō Sutra

Hōgō-kyō (Kanji) hōkō is a shortened conpound of Kanji hêsei, "square,upright,"and Kanji kōdai, "large, great"; hence, in the bluddhist tradition it designates Mahayana. Therefore, Höko-kyö means Mahayana scripture; for another possible meaning, however,

Hōkō-kyō (Kanji); since the term is used for Mahâyâna scriptures in general it is impossible to determine what particular scripture is meant; possibly the reference is to Daityū hōkō sange metsuzai shōgon jōbutsu-kyō (viele Kanji) forged in China during the Sui dynasty. The forgery attests to the popularity of this rite in China; the rite was transmitted to Japan before 731