Japanese Buddhist hymn
A hymn of praise written in Japanese, as opposed to Chinese-style hymns (漢讃). Used in Buddhist liturgy, especially in Pure Land traditions.
Shinran's wasan are often recited at Jōdo Shinshū services.
この和讃は阿弥陀仏をたたえる歌です。
This wasan is a song praising Amida Buddha.
Standard kanji form for Japanese Buddhist hymns.
Variant kanji form using 讚 instead of 讃; both are used.
From 和 (wa, 'Japanese') + 讃 (san, 'praise'). The term refers to hymns composed in Japanese rather than classical Chinese, popularized in Japanese Buddhism from the Heian period onward.