Buddha Statues

Buddha Statues & Japan – Jan. 2012

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:08:47 +0000

Welcome 2012 — Year of the Dragon

Befittingly for the Year of the Dragon, this issue begins with a tribute to the dragon in Japanese mythology and art, and provides handy links to the A-to-Z Photo Dictionary for those who want to explore dragon lore more deeply. It also features a book review (by me) that appeared in the January/February 2012 edition of Orientations, a highly respected magazine read by collectors, connoisseurs, art historians, and scholars of Asian art. Orientations’ first issue of 2012 traces the origins and evolution of the dragon motif in ceramics of China’s Yuan dynasty (mid-14th century).

INTRODUCTION. Dragon 龍 (Lóng = China, Ryū = Japan). In Asia, the dragon appeared in Chinese myth & artwork well before the introduction of Buddhism to China in the 1st & 2nd centuries CE. Japan’s dragon lore comes predominantly from China. Images of the creature are found throughout Asia, where it was adopted as a protector of Buddhism, a symbol of imperial power, the guardian of the east, the controller of rain and tempests, and a magical shape shifter able to assume human form and mate with people. In contrast to Europe’s malevolent dragon, the Asian dragon is considered benevolent, just, and the bringer of wealth. Learn more at the A-to-Z Photo Dictionary.


One of Four Celestial Emblems, each guarding a compass direction (dragon = east, red bird = south, tiger = west, tortoise = north). Each is linked to a season, color, element, & other traits. Each corresponds to a star constellation with 7 stars (see 28 Lunar Mansions).	One of the 12 Zodiac Signs. Patron of those born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012. The dragon is also one of Eight Legions who guard Buddhism & its teachings.	Each of the 12 Zodiac creatures is also associated with a Buddhist patron deity. The dragon is paired with Fugen Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of Practice (Praxis).


Dragon images are commonly placed under the eaves of Japanese temples & shrines to ward off evil spirits, as are images of the shishi (lion) and baku (nightmare eater).	Dragons are often painted on the ceiling of Zen assembly halls, and frequently adorn water purification fountains at temples and shrines. Dragons are a common motif in Japanese art.	From the medieval period until the Meiji period, maps of Japan were drawn inside a dragon. This topic will be featured this summer at the A-to-Z Dictionary.


Dragons are the messengers and avatars of Benzaiten, Japan’s goddess of water, art, music, & learning. This topic will be explored in-depth this Feb. at the A-to-Z Dictionary.	Dragons are also closely associated with Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), kami Shirayamahime, and other deities in the Buddhist & Shinto pantheons of Japan.	Carp transforming into dragon. Among countless dragon stories in China & Japan, one of the most endearing is the Chinese legend of Koi-no-Takinobori (see story below).

Chinese Legend of Carp Becoming a Dragon

A common artistic theme from old China, one based on a Chinese legend known as Koi-no-Takinobori in Japan, wherein carp swim, against all odds, up a waterfall known as the “Dragon Gate” at the headwaters of China’s Yellow River. The gods are very impressed by the feat, and reward the few successful carp by turning them into powerful dragons. The story symbolizes the virtues of courage, effort, and perseverance, which correspond to the nearly impossible struggle of humans to attain Buddhahood. In modern Japan, temples and shrines commonly stock their garden ponds with carp, which grow to enormous sizes in a variety of colors.

Book Recommendation, Book Review

Portraits of Chōgen: The Transformation of Buddhist Art in Early Medieval Japan, by John M. Rosenfield, 2011. This lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched work vividly describes the efforts of Japanese monk Shunjōbō Chōgen (1121–1206) and his efforts to restore the Great Buddha in Nara and other art lost in the brutal civil conflicts of the late 12th century. This book is also a sweeping survey of Kamakura-era Buddhist statuary, portraiture, architecture, and dedicatory rites. It is worthy of a prominent spot on the bookshelves of scholars and students of Japanese religious art, pre-modern history, and visual culture. 296 pages, 197 illustrations. Read Book Review by Mark Schumacher that first appeared in Orientations magazine (Vol. 43, #1, Jan/Feb 2012). To learn more about Orientations, see their web site.

To order the book online, see Brill Publications. To read the book review, click here.

Buddha Statues & Japan – Oct. 2011

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 06:41:34 +0000

Hello Readers. This month’s updates include some exciting stories and exhibits.

Shape-Shifting Tanuki in Japanese Artwork

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tanuki.shtml
Grab you favorite beverage, sit back, and join me on a riotous visual romp featuring over 150 photos (from the 17th century onward) of the magical shape-shifting Tanuki. This 34-page article explores the metamorphosis of the spook-beast Tanuki from bad guy to good guy, from feared to beloved. It also debunks widespread misinformation about Tanuki, his sake flask, promissory note, and giant scrotum. It is intended as a “primer” for students & teachers of art history and folklore. The only thing missing is popcorn.

Metamorpohosis of the Shape-Shifting Tanuki, From Bad Guy to Good Guy, Feared to Beloved

Current Exhibitions & In The News

» Aizen Myō-ō Exhibition, October 15 through December 4, 2011
Aizen Exhibition, Kanagawa Bunko. At the Kanagawa Prefectural Kanazawa Bunko Museum 神奈川県立金沢文庫 in Yokohama. If you live in Japan, don’t miss this exhibition, which features Aizen Myō-ō 愛染明王. Aizen is the King of Sexual Passion, one who converts earthly desires (love/lust) into spiritual awakening and saves people from the pain that comes with love. Today, Aizen is also revered in Japan’s gay quarters as the patron of love. Aizen is closely connected with the magical wish-granting jewel (Jp. = Hōjyu 宝珠; Sanskrit = cintamani), as are other Buddhist deities. Depending on the deity involved, the jewel can signify the bestowal of blessings on all who suffer, grant wishes, pacify desires, and bring clear understanding of the Dharma (Buddhist law). In Aizen’s case, worshippers often used the jewel to pray for success in their romantic relationships. One important ceremony was called the Jewel of Aizen Myō-ō Rite 如法愛染王法 (pronounced Nyohō Aizen ō hō). The rite was used in the 13th and 14th centuries by esoteric sects to pray for the love and respect of others. This Aizen rite is a variant of the main esoteric ceremony known as the Wish-Granting Jewel Rite 如意宝珠法 (pronounced Nyoi Hōju Hō). This rite began sometime in the late Heian period, spearheaded by the Daigo-ji Temple (Shingon sect) in Kyoto.

Some of the main Aizen pieces on display, most from the 13th century.

» Kasuga Landscapes & Images of a Sacred Sanctuary, Oct 8 – Nov. 6, 2011
Nezu Museum in Tokyo is holding an incredible exhibition of artwork from Kasuga Shrine (Nara) with approximately 35 paintings, mandalas, and decorative art works. See Nezu Museum’s English page for details.

» Sculptures of the Imperial Household, Until Nov. 20, 2011
Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum (Kyoto). Showcases around 60 pieces, including ivory and wooden sculptures, framed carvings and netsuke by Koun Takamura (1852-1934) and Komei Ishikawa (1852-1913), two master sculptors appointed as artists to the Imperial Household when the system started in 1890.

» True living temples: Explore beyond Kyoto’s museum-like big attractions
Special to The Daily Yomiuri Read the story here.

» Robert Yellin, Handling History in a Clay Vessel
Read the story here.

Please enjoy this month’s newsletter.
mark from kamakura

Buddha Statues & Japan – August 2011

admin — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:41:45 +0000

Hello Readers,
Lots to report this month.

Kamakura Bonbori Festival

http://onmarkproductions.com/html/bonbori.html
Enjoy nearly 140 photos of paper lantern artwork. Bonbori 雪洞 is a Japanese paper lantern. In August each year, bonbori lanterns are lit in the sacred precincts of the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in central Kamakura city. Other cities around Japan have similar lantern festivals. In Kamakura, lanterns are submitted by many artists, novelists and famous people. Roughly 400 bonbori with hand-drawn pictures, calligraphy, and poems are displayed in the shrine’s precincts during the festival.

Some of the Bonbori artwork in Kamakura 2011. Click image for slideshow.

Becoming a Shintō Priest or Priestess

http://onmarkproductions.com/html/shinto-priesthood.html

To work officially as a priest in modern Japan, individuals must pass examinations given by the Association of Shintō Shrines (Jinja Honchō神社本庁) — these tests are open to both men and women who want to become Shintō priests. But until modern times, there was no standardized certification or qualification system. Throughout most of Japan’s recorded history, appointments to the priesthood were controlled by the imperial court, priestly family lineages, and various Shintō schools. Essentially, the Shintō priesthood was a hereditary profession — passed along from father to son — until the Meiji Era (1868-1912). On 14 May 1871, the Meiji government issued orders abolishing the hereditary system and private ownership of shrines. Theoretically, these ordinances should have eradicated the hereditary system, but in practice, priests were still able to inherit their positions by applying for and receiving the approval of authorities. Before World War II, it was virtually unheard of for a Shinto priest to be a woman. World War II apparently gave a boost to female priests, with wives and daughters replacing the missing menfolk. Also, today, with the lack of interest in religion, and with families growing smaller, shrine priesthoods have had to open up to daughters to keep the priesthood in the family.

Shinto priest & miko (female attendants) at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura

Current Exhibitions & In The News

» Tokyo National Museum. July 20 through September 25, 2011 . Kukai’s World: The Arts of Esoteric Buddhism. If you are in or near Tokyo, don’t miss this exhibition. I recently attended this exhibition. What a splendid experience. The 99 pieces (of which 98 are national treasures or ICPs) came primarily from Toji Temple. What a delight. And this time the museum got innovative — many of the pieces could be enjoyed “in the round,” letting viewers walk behind the pieces to view the multiple heads and hanging robes and platforms in their entirety. This exhibition introduces masterpieces of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, with a focus on the objects brought by Kukai from Tang China; works directly related to him (such as his writings and sculptures produced under his instruction). Even Tendai’s much neglected Saicho makes an appearance (calligraphic scroll). Due to massive PR efforts, this exhibition is extremely popular. The place was packed on Wednesday (when I visited), requiring one to wait patiently in line to view the 99 pieces. It is also OBON here, so that too explains the multitude. It took me and my friend (an esoteric practitioner) over three hours to complete the circuit — nonetheless, it was extremely impressive.

» Kyoto National Museum. July 16 to August 28, 2011. Now Ended.
Creatures’ Paradise: Animals in Art from the Kyoto National Museum.
See review of this exhibit entitled Japan’s interpretation of all creatures great and small.
By SACHIKO TAMASHIGE. Special to The Japan Times.

» Nara National Museum. Special Exhibitions Page. On to India! Xuanzang’s 30,000-Kilometer Trek. July 16 through August 28, 2011. Secret Treasures & Sacred Image of Yoki Tenman Jinja: “The Hallowed Yoki Shrine at Hatsuse.” July 16 through August 28.

» Bronze sculptures by UK artist Sukhi Barber
http://sukhibarber.com. She spent twelve years in Kathmandu (Nepal) studying Buddhist philosophy and lost-wax bronze casting.

UK artist Sukhi Barber

» Japanese brothers who championed Korean ceramics.
By SACHIKO TAMASHIGE. Special to The Japan Times
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fa20110825a1.html

» Buddhist Art News http://buddhistartnews.wordpress.com
News on Buddhist art, architecture, archaeology, music, dance, and academia.
Written and updated regularly by Jonathan Ciliberto and John Johnston. Includes
reviews of new books related to Buddhist art.

» IBM helping National Diet Library of Japan digitize its literary artifacts on massive scale. http://rdmag.com/News/Feeds/2011/08/information-tech-ibm-develops-full-text-digitization-system-for-nat/

» Mask maker keeping Shimane tradition alive | The Japan Times Online
Englishman’s skills help sustain 17th-century Iwami-Kagura ceremonial dance rituals.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20110827a1.html

» 1893 expo’s historic Japanese Phoenix panels reunited, restored.
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/7068303-522/1893-expos-historic-japanese-panels-reunited-restored.html

Enjoy
mark from kamakura