Tō-on

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The lyrics of a song in the book, 清楽 (Gekkin Gakufu; 1877) annotated in Tō-on pronunciation.

Tō-on (唐音, Japanese pronunciation: , "Tang sound"), also pronounced "tō-in", are Japanese kanji readings imported from China by Zen monks and merchants during and after the Song dynasty. This period roughly corresponds with the mid-Heian to Edo periods of Japan. During the Muromachi period, they were referred to as "sō-on" (宋音, "Song sound"). Together, they are collectively known as "tōsō-on" (唐宋音).

Scholars divide tō-on into two groups: those that are based on Zen of the Middle Ages, and those based on the Ōbaku school of Buddhism of the Middle Ages. The latter are the readings sometimes referred to as "sō-on".

Tō-on readings are not systematic, as they were introduced piecemeal from China, often along with very specialized terminology.

Examples of words and characters using tō-on readings include: chair (椅子, isu), futon (蒲団), paper lantern (行灯, andon), Ming (明, min) and Qing (清, shin).

The Ōbaku Zen school of Buddhism uses Tō-on exclusively for liturgy.

See also

• Go-on
• Kan-on

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