The Junirai: The Twelve Adorations of Amida Buddha

Studying about the Ikko-Ikki rebellion (parts one, two and three as of writing) has brought back lots of memories of the local Jodo Shinshu temple that I spent many years at. I also remember the liturgy I used to train in while getting certified as a minister’s assistant. I was a terrible singer (always have been), so I never sang well. Not just OK, I was genuinely bad. But I still enjoyed many of the different liturgies we sang in Sunday services including the Shoshinge, Juseige, and so on.

One of my personal favorite was a liturgy called the Jūnirai (十二礼), which means The Twelve Adorations of Amida Buddha. We didn’t sing this one too often, but it did come up from time to time.¹

As far as I can tell, this liturgy is found only in the Jodo Shinshu tradition, and is based on a document attributed to the Indian-Buddhist monk Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna (c. 150 – 250 CE) was a very influential monk in early, early Mahayana Buddhist tradition, and some documents related to Pure Land thought and Amida Buddha are attributed to him. I say “attributed”, because there is some doubt as to whether Nagarjuna authored such works, or possibly there was another monk named Nagarjuna who did. Early Indian-Buddhist textual history is tricky at best.

Nonetheless, the Hymn of The Twelve Adorations is a nice, easy melodic song. You can find translations here and here among other places. The actual hymn, sung in Sino-Japanese² has twelve verses and a straightforward melody. There is a great example of this on Youtube below (fast forward to 1:10 for the hymn if you like):

It’s a very nice, easy tune to pick up. I’ve even heard the same tune occasionally used by elderly Japanese-Americans reciting other hymns, including the Shoshinge, but the origins are not clear to me.

Anyhow, the Junirai is simple enough that even someone tone-deaf like me can passably sing it, but also very poetic and lovely. If you’re near a Jodo Shinshu temple, check it out and see it sung in person sometime, but if not, you can find the Sino-Japanese lyrics in the links above, and can sing along as a devotional at home if you like.

Namu Amida Butsu

P.S. Old, old photo of me as a minister’s assistant in training (I still have my certificate somewhere).

¹ One difference I have noticed over the years between Jodo Shinshu temples in the West versus Japan is that in the West weekly services (i.e. “sunday services”) are common, but in Japan they usually only happen at major temples, not parochial ones. Thus, in Japan the emphasis is on home liturgy and chanting. People will chant the same hymns and sutras as described above, but in a home setting before an altar. Of course, Western Buddhists do home services too. It’s just that in Japan and other places in Asia, you’re not obligated to attend weekly communal services.

² That is, Chinese characters with Japanese pronunciation, not native Japanese language.