Onmyodo is based on the ancient Chinese theories of yin and yang and the five phases. Practitioners of Onmyodo utilized Yijing divination, magical purification, and various kinds of rituals in order to deduce one's fortune or to prevent unusual disasters. However, the term "Onmyodo" cannot be found in China or Korea. Onmyodo is a religion that came into existence only within Japan. As Onmyodo was formed, it subsumed various elements of Chinese folk religion, Daoism, and Mikkyo, and its religious organization deepened. From the time of the establishment of the Onmyodo as a government office under the ritsuryo codes through the eleventh century, magical rituals and purifications were performed extensively. This article takes this period as its focus, particularly emphasizing the connection between Onmyodo and Chinese religion.
目次
The Subjects and Learning of Arts 25 Participation in Quelling Ceremonies 28 The Formation of Onmyōdō Rituals 32 Writings Related to Onmyōdō 36 Concluding Remarks 39
