Showing posts with label decoration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decoration. Show all posts

2010/02/05

Kakebotoke votive plaques

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Kakebotoke - Votive Plaques and Daruma 懸仏と達磨


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"Kakebotoke" simply means "Hanging Buddha"
and refers to a plaque hanging on the wall. It can also be written 懸け仏 in Japanese. Sometimes it is translated as "Hanging Disc", since it is mostly round in shape.

The votive plaque occupies a peculiar position among religious art objects because it was produced in this form only in Japan and developed in a unique way. This came into existence after the practice of enshrining Buddhist and Shintoist deities under the same roof started. The principal subject of the votive plaque were Buddhist figures (kakebotoke 懸仏); the round plaques were about 40 cm in diameter and generally hung inside a temple or a shrine. It was first called Mishootai (御神体) or the "true form of the deity", and the use of the word "Kakebotoke" seems to have started in the early Meiji period.

Votive plaques are classified in three types:
1) Round metal plates provided with one or two hooks by means of which they were suspended and on the surface of which a Buddhist figure, very often Kannon Bosatsu or Dainichi Nyorai, was engraved.
2) Round metal plates with a figure embossed, usually with an inscription of the maker and the donor on the back side.
3) Round metal plates, usually copper with gilt or silver, to which an embossed Buddhistic figure was attached.

The origin of the votive plaque seems to have been closely related to the custom in which the actual Buddhist image was reflected in a mirror. This custom was initiated by Emperor Monmu (reign 697-707) upon a suggestion in his dream by a priest, although he had planned to build a Buddhist statue.
Read a learned essay about this subject in the middle of the following HP.
http://www.tobunken.go.jp/~bijutsu/english/biken/abstract/70.html

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Kakebotoke
were also put up in front of a tabernakel with a secret Buddha statue (hibutsu 秘仏), which was not to be shown to the public. The votive plaques with a copy of the secret Buddha statue, sometimes up to 50 cm in diameter, became the object of veneration. Since they were stolen quite often they were later hung up high in the inner sanctuary (naijin 内陣) to prevent theft.

The custom of reflecting a Buddhist statue in a mirror for a special ritual is still alive today.

Here is a mysterious story I heared in a temple in Kamakura:

For special exorcistic rituals of esoteric Buddhism heated oil is poured over a Buddha statue. The statue in question was a secret statue, so the Kakebotoke substitue had to be used. Since the Kakebotoke statue of this temple had just been newly made and was quite pretty, the priest wanted to spare it this fate. He decided to reflect the statue in a mirror and poor the heated oil over the mirror. It seems the Gods accepted this sacrificial offer of a substitute with another substitute and peace returned to the poor soul for which the ritual was performed.

You want to know why this ritual had to be performed? Well, that brings us into the realm of the Ghost Stories of Lafcardio Hearn (Kwaidan, 怪談), but here it is:

During the early Edo period, a young woman who lived in Kamakura close to this tempel had made a wish to the powerful god of this particluar temple to grant her a child. She soon gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, but died shortly after that. Since it is the custom to go back to the temple and thank the god for a granted favor (o-rei mairi お礼参り), she could not perform this ceremony and her poor soul was hanging in limbo for quite a while.

Just after World War II another woman, Mrs. K. who lived close to the temple, started to have the same dream every night: A young woman appeared at her pillow, telling her the above story and asked her to have a ritual performed to pacify her soul. "If you help me, I will show my gratitude for your act!" the young woman promised. So, after consulting with the temple priest, the ritual to pacify the soul of the young mother was performed - with the hot oil on the mirror to substiture for the substitute, but the god was pacified anyway and the soul of the young woman could proceed to heaven. She appeared just one more time at the pillow of Mrs. K., thanked her again and promised to do something good for her.

Now, you ask, what good did she do for Mrs. K? That I cannot tell you here, but if you send me an Email, I might. After all, miracles happen even in our modern times.

. Kawabata Yasunari 川端康成 Yasunari Kawabata .

. Gankake 願掛け wish-prayer, to make a wish .

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The Kakebotoke from the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.


source : www.clevelandart.org

This Kakebotoke was originally suspended by brightly colored cords from a wooden beam in a Buddhist worship hall of the late Heian period. Originally its polished bronze surface reflected the flickering light of oil and candle flames. But through the centuries of exposure to the elements and wax and oil smoke, the metal surface has acquired the rich blue-and-green patination of age and usage so admired by the Japanese. The seated figure of the universally benevolent deity, Kannon, sits on a lotus base surrounded by a double halo with flame patterns.
These elements have all been cut from a sheet of bronze and delicately hammered into shape using a wood mold. The surface of the deity's figure and the individual lotus petals have been incised and carefully tooled to provide detailing of form and three-dimensional modeling.
by .barnard.columbia.edu

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Kannon Bosatsu as Kakebotoke from the Heian period.
MIHO Museum.

source : www.miho.or.jp

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Daruma as Kakebotoke だるまの懸仏



Since Kakebotoke is originally just a hanging Buddhist figure, I take the liberty to add our Daruma san to this categorie. Most of the Daruma plaques are made of wood, now even of plastic, but they still serve the purpose of being worshipped in the hope for some favor in life. So let us have a look at some Darumas hanging on my wall.




The one on the left is of beatuifully shaped wood, almost triangular. On the sides it reads: Seven times Down, Eight times Up (七転八起). The plaque is 35 cm high and 70 cm wide.




This is a square plaque of black wood with two Darumas in the form of a papermachee Daruma. One of them is carrying a flywhisk. The plaque is 24 cm high and 32 cm wide.




This Daruma appears on an oval wooden plate and is very carefully carved and polished. It is 50 cm high and 35 cm wide.




This last one is a special gift from a friend, who made it of pottery after visiting my Daruma Hall. It is meant to hang at the door and greet the visitors. It is about 13 cm high and his face is quite individualistically formed.



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2010/02/04

Kamakurabori

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Kamakurabori - Daruma and Laquerware
鎌倉彫り


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Carved laquer objects made in Kamakura

First some general remarks about laquer techniques.

Laquerware is created from the sap of the laquer tree for practical and artistic equipment we use in our daily lives. The advantage of laquer is its strong natural adhesive property and it is very easily processed into pieces. Traditionally many coatings of laquer are applied and after drying patterns are carved out of the laquer. With Kamakurabori the process is the opposite. First the wood is carved and then only a few coatings are used to cover it. In this way the normally expensive laquer pieces could be produced at a more affordable level for every-day use objects.



The coating with laquer not only helps create beautiful pieces, but it also has the following advantages:

1. Preserves products from decomposition.
2. Keeps beautiful sheen and luster forever.
3. Provides soft and warm feeling when touched. This is important when you
use laquerware for eating tools.
4. Anti-acidity, anti-alkaline and anti-electric properties and a great
endurance against wear and tear.
5. The coating can be applied to almost anything, wood, iron, paper, leather.
6. It is easy to add other decorations after laquer coating.

Here are some forms of decoration:
Pictures painted or inlayed in laquer 漆絵(Urushi-e)
Pictures with sprincled powder of gold, silver or other materials 薪絵(Maki-e)
Gold or silver inlay in scratch marks of urushi 沈金(Chinkin)沈銀(Chingin)
Inlay of shells 螺鈿(Raden)




from the Fenolossa Cyber Museum.



Kamakurabori
is a specialty of the city of Kamakura. It's a combination of woodcarving and lacquer-work. Designs are carved in wood and then coated many times with red and black lacquer. The carving technique dates from the 13th century and originates from Buddhist statue sculptors. Their technique was succeeded from one generation to another. The present owner of the store Hakkoodoo in Kamakura for example is the 28th direct descendant of the founder of the Goto Buddhist-statue sculptor family.

As Kamakura began to wane in importance in the 15th century, demand for statue carving dropped. The artists found a niche in the area of utensils such as trays used domestically in the kitchen, and today, Kamakurabori is a special product of the city.


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Kamakura-bori ... further reference


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Walking in Kamakura 鎌倉散歩

Since Kamakura is easily reached by Yokosuka Line from Tokyo it is a good place for a daytrip. I lived in Kamakura for more than 15 years before moving to Okayama prefecture, so I will introduce you to some of my favorite spots. 
First the "Coin-Washing" Zeniarai Benten 銭洗弁天. zeniarai Benten

According to legend, the Shrine dates from the era of Yoritomo Minamoto (1147-1199), the founder of the Kamakura Shogunate. One night after a series of battles, an old man appeared in his dream and said, "I am the god of Ugajin. There is a spring in the gorge located in the northwest direction of Kamakura. Go find it and worship Ugajin with the spring water. People may start to have faith in the god and peace will be restored." It was the day of the Serpent, the month of the Serpent in 1185, the year of Serpent on lunar calendar based on twelve zodiac signs.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Believe me, I have washed a lot of coins there and it seems to have helped a little!

Inari 稲荷 <> The Fox God Cult Kitsune, the animal fox.


One of my favorites is the temple Kakuon-ji, 覚園寺 hidden in the back of a valley and coming to live every year at August 10 for the midnight festival of the Black Jizo Bosatsu (kurojizoo 黒地蔵).   
August 10 every year is the day to venerate this Black Jizo Bosatsu. A religious service for him starts at twelve midnight with gongs and bells, attended by a number of Shingon sect priests chanting Han'nya shingyoo, or Prajna-paramita sutra.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

If you find time it is well worth a visit. From the big statue of Yakushi Nyorai in the Main Hall there is a long five-colored cord through the hall and outside in the garden, where it is hanging from a large pole, so you can get in direct TOUCH with this Healing Buddha. The hall is lit by candles and all seems far removed from time and space. Visitig the Cave with 13 Buddhas you get almost choked by the smoke of so many candles and have a real foretaste of hell.
There are not many chances these days to "experience" a Buddha statue in its original setting made for veneration and lit by candles. To spend a long mysterious summer night here in these otherwise quiet temple grounds shows you a glimpse of OLD KAMAKURA, better than the fireworks at the sea two days later.


KAMAKURA ... further reference


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Daruma of Kamakurabori


Here is a Bolotie holder of my collection. It is only 3.5 cm large. I bought it many years ago and it was quite expensive already then.
これは達磨さんがボーロネクタイ・ホールダになる作品です。




Next we have a small netsuke of 4.5 cm.
This Daruma looks almost like the Daibutsu, the Big Buddha of Kamakura. From his painstakenly carved eyebrows you can see it is Daruma san.





And finally one more piece of laquer, but this may be Negoro laquer.
This one is very special. It is a box where you put your cloths after undressing in the evening or for the daily bath (midarekago). I can well imagine the headpriest of some Kamakura temple having this made to order and use it daily to remind himself of the spirit of Zen in daily life. This box is 70 cm long and 48 cm wide. Inside is a carving of Daruma standing on a rush leaf (royoo Daruma).


Rush-Leaf Daruma (royoo) 芦葉達磨 Daruma on a reed



. My PHOTO ALBUM - Laquer Daruma Figures   


Urushi no ki 漆 うるし <> Lacquer Tree

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... Kamakura, my Haiku Town in Japan

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looptie ループタイ  looptie holder, bolo tie


bolotie holder







pink coral ピンク珊瑚
ruupu tai ループタイ bolo tie, looptie


- source : rakuten.co.jp/sangoya


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. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja - Vidyaraja - Fudo Myoo .


loop tie ループタイ Fudo Myo-O


source : rakuten.co.jp/horigin


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2008/08/24

Modern Games

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Modern Games

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ATARI Play


Atari Daruma Kitty アタリ









source : games.atari.com


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medama ire geemu 目玉入れゲーム

game to put the eyes into Daruma

on the bottom of a drinking glass





. Daruma Daruma Daruma .

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Daruma Game



Y3 games, New games, 1 Player, Flash, Fun, Mouse Skill,

Infomation: Steady…steady…no hits to the face! Control the swinging pendulum with your mouse. Knock the rectangle blocks out from under the face without knocking the face over or off the screen.
How to play: Use mouse to interact.
Free Play at
http://www.y3games.net/y3-games/9105/Daruma_Game-y3-games.html


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Dogo : Hime Kitty Daruma, Princess Daruma
from Dogo Onsen Matsuyama

ひめだるまキティ, 姫だるまキティ


. Tedasuke Daruma 手助けダルマ helping hand 
janken、じゃん拳 the game of “scissors-paper-rock”.

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Traditiona Games

Daruma san ga koronda ... だるまさんがころんだ

- quote -
One person is "it". Instead of counting to ten, "it" says, "Daruma-san ga koronda."(In fact, there are 10 syllables in the sentence, which means, "The daruma doll fell over.") For the other players, the object of the game is to get close to whoever is "it" without him seeing them move.


How to play
(1) The person who is "it" faces away from the other players with his eyes shut. "It" says "Daruma-san ga koronda" quickly, and then turns around as quickly as possible, opening his eyes. While "it" is saying the phrase, the other players move closer to him. Just before "it" turns around, the players must freeze.

(2) If "it" sees a player moving, that player must hold hands with "it."

(3) If a player successfully reaches "it" without getting caught, he or she slaps "it" on the back, then everyone except "it" runs away. However, if "it" is holding hands with one or more captured players, the attacker tries to break their hands apart with the side of his hand. Then everyone except "it" runs away.

(4) When "it" shouts "Tomare!"("Stop!"), everybody must freeze.

(5) If "it" tags one of them by taking no more than three steps, the two switch places.
- source : web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia26 -


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2007/05/25

Kabekake

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Daruma to hang on the wall
kabekake 壁掛けだるま


wall hanger, Wandbehang

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about 195 x 135 cm

source : だるまさん色々


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This one is about 15 cm wide.


Photos from my friend Ishino


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Click for more photos.

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Kakebotoke 掛仏 <> Votive Plaque to hang on a Wall

Kakejiku 掛け軸 <> Scrolls and Paintings
Main Entry for Scrolls

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Kabekake Haiku
壁掛け俳句 Haiku to hang on the wall


A young man is knitting his haiku for a wall hangar.


source : knittman.exblog.jp


blue wind -
my tears freeze
on the beach in winter

Tr. Gabi Greve

. . . . .


looking for spring -
a knitted haiku
on the wall


Gabi Greve, April 2011


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2007/05/10

Fire Daruma

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Fire Daruma 火だるま Hi-Daruma 火達磨
Daruma like a fireball




Hi Daruma Kaita 火だるま槐多 ひだるまかいた by 荒波力 ISBN 4-393-44715-8

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A real fire ball !



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Fire Daruma 火だるま君 Hi-Daruma Kun



私家版・全国高校サッカー選手権大会マスコット

© めおとフーリガン工房

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Maskot PUSU
火だるまのプスプス


炎の妖精のマスコット



© Intsys Co.

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CLICK for more photos


Fire (kaji) Fires in Edo

..... Fire Festivals, Rituals and Ceremonies (hi matsuri)Japan

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2007/05/06

New Year Decoration

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Shoogatsu ... New Year Decoration



© Cheese Net


. Engimono 縁起物
little things for good luck .



New Year Ceremonies in Japan
A detailed Saijiki


. WASHOKU -
New Year Food and Decorations
  

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