The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (937 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Hannya
(Jap.). Direct and immediate insight in Zen Buddhism, based on
(Skt.)
prajña
.
Han-shan
(Jap., Kanzan). A Chinese layperson, who practised Ch’an Buddhism in his own style, in approximately the 7th cent. CE. He wrote poems on any surface available, some of which were later collected in
Han-shan-shih
(Poems from Cold Mountain). He undertook no formal training or discipline, but did consult Feng-kan
(Jap., Bukan) in the monastery, Ku’o-ching, in
dokusan
. A cook's assistant, Shih-te, supplied Han-shan with food, and together the two realized the buddha-nature (
buddhat
) more profoundly than most of the monks. The two have become symbols (extremely common in Zen art) of the lay approach to enlightenment; they are sometimes represented with Feng-kan and a tiger, all lying down in sleep together.
Han Shu
(History of the Han)
:
anukkah
(Heb., ‘Dedication’). Jewish Festival of Lights.
anukkah begins on 25 Kislev and lasts for eight days. According to
1 Maccabees
4. 36–59, Judas
Maccabee
purified the
Temple
after the
Hellenistic
desecration and rededicated it on 25 Kislev. Celebrations lasted for eight days. The story of one day's supply of the holy oil miraculously lasting eight days is legendary and dates back to the days of the
tannaim
. After the lamp is lit, a short prayer beginning, ‘Ha-nerot hallalu’ (These lamps) is recited. A short summary of the
anukkah story is included in the
Amida
and during the course of
grace
after meals. Card-playing is traditionally associated with the festival, as is spinning the
dreidel
(spinning-top). The
anukkah lamp or
menorah
is a prominent ritual object in every Jewish household, and has become a vehicle for the display of artistic craftsmanship.

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