Kōshiki

Kōshiki (講式) is a musical genre used in Japanese Buddhism rituals. It originated from the Tendai belief in the late tenth century, and later spread to other Buddhist schools. It is a form of narrative music, and often incorporates foreign non-Buddhist deities.

The word "kōshiki" literally translates to "lecture ceremony."

Origins
The exact beginnings of kōshiki are unclear. The earliest known work in the genre is "Nijügo zanmai shiki", written by Genshin in 986. This work became a model for future works in the style. By the 12th and 13th centuries, kōshiki became popular among many Japanese Buddhists.

Form
Kōshiki is a liturgical ritual performance, which talks about an object of devotion. The object's history, virtues, and importance are described, and the ritual connects object with those present for the performance.

The general structure of kōshiki begins with an intention statement, followed by prose sections. The prose sections discuss the intention statement, and are sometimes in Chinese. Each section finishes by transferring merit. A work of kōshiki ends with a chant or verse about the theme.