1.
Buddhist sutra; Buddhist scripture; chanting of sutras
Sacred Buddhist texts that are chanted during religious ceremonies, funerals, and memorial services. The お prefix adds a respectful or familiar tone.
Usage
The お prefix is standard and almost always used in everyday speech. The plain form 経 alone is more formal or literary. The most common verbs used with お経 are 読む (to read/chant), 上げる (to offer up), and 唱える (to recite).
Common collocations
Cultural note
Sutra chanting is central to Japanese Buddhist funerals and memorial services. Even families who are not actively religious typically have sutras chanted by a monk at funerals (葬儀) and annual memorial services (法事).