散華の偈 (Sange-no-Ge): Creative methods using substitutes for expensive lotus flowers for prayer

What is 散華の偈 (Sange-no-Ge)?: Sange-no-Ge is a verse that people chant when they scatter flowers to make an offering to Buddha.

Key point: 散華の偈 (Sange-no-Ge) is a verse that people chant when they scatter flower petals to make an offering to Buddha. 荘厳 (Shogon) is a way to decorate Buddha beautifully.

Sange-no-Ge is a verse that people chant when they scatter flower petals to make an offering to Buddha.

Glossary

• 散華荘厳 遍十方: 散華荘厳 is to scatter flowers to adorn and beautify a sacred space. 遍十方 is To the ten directions (every direction in the universe).
• 散衆宝華 以為帳: 散衆宝華 is to scatter many precious flowers, like jewels. 以為帳 is to use the scattered flowers as a canopy or a hanging curtain to honor the Buddha.
• 散衆宝華 遍十方: To scatter many precious flowers throughout all ten directions of the universe.
• 供養一切 諸如来: 供養一切 is to make offerings to all the Buddhas. 諸如来 is all the Tathagatas.

荘厳 (Shogon) means to decorate Buddha beautifully and to show the virtue of Buddha with ornaments. Some people say, “It is not good for monks to wear expensive robes.” However, monks do not decorate themselves. They decorate Buddha. That is why monks wear bright robes during rituals. On the other hand, the original meaning of 袈裟(Kesa) is a robe made from old and torn cloth. This robe shows the true spirit of Buddhism. Therefore, wearing this simple robe is also a good way to show a Buddhist attitude.

帳 (tobari,cho) means a curtain. The word expresses the act of scattering many lotus flowers to decorate and honor Buddha, like a curtain or a canopy.

如来 (Tathagata,Nyorai) means a person who has finished reaching enlightenment and has become the truth itself. 仏陀 (Buddha) has a similar meaning as a title. The difference is that “Buddha” means a person who reached enlightenment, and “Nyorai” is an honorable title for that person.

For example, Mr. Tanaka earned a doctor’s degree, and he became Dr. Tanaka.
Mr. Tanaka became a Buddha, and he became Tanaka Nyorai.
Correct: Tanaka Nyorai
Incorrect: Tanaka Buddha

How to perform Sange: Scatter lotus flower petals

How to perform the ritual: Three people walk around the dojo. One person carries 柄炉 (a Heiro) and spreads incense. One person uses 洒水器 (a Shasuiki) to sprinkle water. One person carries 花皿(a Hanazara) and scatters flower petals. The person with the Hanazara carries the tray and scatters the petals.

Tools:

• 柄炉 (a Heiro): This is an incense burner. It has burning charcoal and small pieces of fragrant wood on it. Some temples call 柄炉 (the Heiro) 柄香炉 (an Egoro).
• 洒水器 (a Shasuiki): This is a container for blessed water. It has a pine branch in it.
• 花皿 (a Hanazara): This is a large tray with flower petals on it.

Process: When one priest leads the ceremony, he burns incense and sprinkles water by himself while chanting the 洒水文 (Shasui-mon). If there are enough people, three people walk around the dojo in a square. One person burns incense, one person sprinkles water, and one person Scatter flower petals. This is called 浄道場 (Jo-dojo).

浄道場 (Jo-dojo)

1. 洒水文 (Sange-mon)
2. 散華の偈 (Sange-no-Ge)

Not stained even in the mud: The wish inside the lotus flower

Key Point: The lotus is a symbol of Buddhism, but it was not available in Japan before the discovery of the Oga lotus.

The lotus grows its roots in the mud, but it stays clean and blooms with a pure flower. It symbolizes the core teaching of Buddhism: that even in this world (the mud) filled with confusion and worldly desires, we can remain unstained and achieve enlightenment (the flower).

The lotus came to Japan from India at the same time as rice cultivation. After the introduction of Buddhism, it was honored as a sacred symbol. However, it once became extinct in Japan. In 1951, Dr. Oga successfully sprouted seeds that had been sleeping for 2,000 years (Reference: Oga Lotus by Chiba City).

Bringing the Lotus into Daily Life: Shikimi as a Substitute

Key Point: In Japan, 樒 (Shikimi,Japanese star anise,Illicium anisatum)has been used as a substitute for the lotus.

Since the lotus was not native to Japan before 1951, it was difficult to use in rituals. Therefore, in 真言密教 (Shingon Esoteric Buddhism), Shikimi has been highly valued as a substitute. Shikimi is evergreen and grows abundantly in the mountains, making it much easier to use than the lotus. Legend says that 鑑真(Jianzhen,Ganjin) brought it to Japan and 空海(Kukai) cherished it, partly because its shape resembles a blue lotus. For these reasons, just as paper petals are used as a substitute for real lotus petals, it is also possible to use Shikimi leaves as a substitute (Reference: The Role of Shikimi by Bulletin of the Chuo Academic Research Institute).

In modern temple rituals, paper petals resembling lotus flowers are used. Believers sometimes take these paper petals home. This shows that the intention of the heart is more important than whether flowers are literally scattered or not.

The Core

• In Japan, Shikimi (Japanese star anise) is used in place of the lotus, helping us keep our daily lives pure.
• While the lotus is a symbol of Buddhism, it was not readily available in Japan until the discovery of the Oga lotus.
• The Sange-no-Ge (Verse of Scattering Flowers) is a verse recited when scattering flower petals as an offering to the Buddha.

My Experience: Using Shikimi in Modern Life

Key Point: Shikimi has been used as a substitute for the lotus. It helps us keep our lives pure and clean.

The lotus is so rare and expensive that it is not practical for daily use. In modern temples, paper lotus petals are often used instead; these are inscribed with Buddhist teachings, such as the Six Paramitas, and scattered during ceremonies. I have personally received lotus seeds from a lotus pond, but while I managed to make them sprout, growing them until they actually bloom is an incredibly difficult task.

This is why I incorporate Shikimi into my daily life. Its leaves contain a potent toxin called “anisatin” and “shikimic acid,” which provide powerful antibacterial, antiseptic, and deodorizing effects through their volatile components. In ancient times, Shikimi was used to mask the odor of corpses and repel animals. Today, we can also expect it to help suppress mold and act as a natural insect repellent in our living spaces (References: About Shikimic Acid by National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College; The Role of Shikimi by Bulletin of the Chuo Academic Research Institute).

When I place Shikimi in a vase in a small space, it fills the room with a refreshing scent that clears my mind. This fragrance sends signals directly to the limbic system, which governs emotions, memories, and physiological control. Even after the leaves fall, they continue to release this scent, so I often gather the fallen leaves and place them in a corner of the room. (Please note that Shikimi is highly toxic if ingested, so those with family members or pets should strictly avoid this.)

The conditions for selecting a substitute plant for Shikimi are that it must be evergreen and aromatic. You do not need to struggle to import lotus or Shikimi; you can find substitutes by utilizing the plants native to your own land. For instance, laurel (bay leaf), juniper, and cypress are excellent alternatives, and these are trees frequently used in Christianity. Although religions and regions differ, the wisdom of ‘using fragrance and evergreen leaves to purify a space’ seems to be a universal human aspiration. I feel that finding ‘purity’ within the plants close to us, rather than forcing the import of something from afar, is the first step toward transforming our modern lives into a path of Buddhist practice.