Daikoku Ten

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. hashiri Daikoku 走り大黒 / 波之利大黒天 .
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Daikoku Ten 大黒天
The Shinto version is written with a different character
大国 Okuninushi

DAIKOKU, DAIKOKU-TEN (Sanskrit = Mahakala)
MAKAKARA, MAKIAKARA-TEN
Name literally means "Great Black Deva"

One of the Seven Gods of Good Luck.

Details are here
Mark Schumacher

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sanmen Daikoku 三面大黒 Daikoku with three faces and six arms

The left face is of Bishamonten 毘沙門天 (Vaisravana),
the right face is of Benzaiten 弁才天 (Sarasvati).

。Japanese Reference .



source :　www.sendai-shichifukujin.com
秀林寺 Shurin-Ji - Sendai


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He is often seen in combination with Ebisu, Deity of the Fishermen

. Ebisu えびす　恵比寿　 .




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kigo for the New Year

hatsu Daikoku 初大黒（はつだいこく）
first Daikoku ceremony

hatsu ki no e ne, hatsu kinoene 初甲子 (はつきのえね)
first day of the rat and the element water
..... hatsu kasshi 初甲子（はつかっし）


The rat (mouse) is closely related to Daikoku.
She is the zodiac sign of midnight and the north, and on the day of the rat a ritual offering of 100 black beans is given to Daikoku.
. Rat and Water day ... 　
Rituals for Sun Waiting



. WKD : New Year Ceremonies

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observance kigo for mid-winter

Daikoku matsuri 大黒祭（だいこくまつり）
Daikoku festival
nematsuri, ne matsuri 子祭 (ねまつり) Rat/Mouse festival



futamata daikon 二股大根（ふたまただいこん）
bifurcated radish
yome daikon 嫁大根（よめだいこん）"radish like a bride"

tooshin uri 燈心売（とうしんうり）vendors of wicks
netooshin 子燈心（ねとうしん） wick sold on th day of the rat

Festival in the month of the rat (lunar 11th month) on the day of the rat, esp. kinoe ne rat.
Many people used tofu and bifurcated radish as an offering.
If you bought a wick for an oil lamp on this day, you will become rich during the year.

Some regions in Kyushu celebrate Daikoku on the next day, day of the ox and the day of the rat is the day of "Daikoku taking a bride".



Sometimes Daikoku is shown with a large radish mikoshi, pulled by mice.

Daikoku represents the male, the bifurcated radish the female body and both are depicted together in prayers for fertility, having many children and keep the family line going.
Simple ema votive tablets were also offered at temples of Daikoku sama.


Otoshime 乙しめ Pricess Otohime, played by 坂東三津五郎 Bandō Mitsugorō, and
Issun'boshi Daikoku 一寸ほし大黒 One-Inch Boy Daikoku played by 市川小団次 Ichikawa Kodanji, 1864.
Utagawa Kunisada II


. Radish, Reddish, daikon 大根　 　


One artist making Daikoku : 瑞陶園
. . . CLICK here for more Photos !

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source : www31.ocn.ne.jp/~suiteki/0358.html

Mizusashi 水滴 water dripper

. . . . .



two-pronged radish 大黒天 二股大根




ema 大黒天 絵馬 votive tablets with Daikoku





Daikoku dorei 大黒天 　土鈴 clay bell




from Izumo

Daikoku hariko 大黒天 張子 papermachee dolls

Click the photos for more illustrations.


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. Nishio ningyoo 西尾人形 Nishio Dolls .
Nagoya, Aichi


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He is one of the
Seven Gods of Good Luck (shichi fukujin)
Daruma Museum: 七福神

Daikoku is considered to be the god of wealth, or of the household, particularly the kitchen. He is recognised by his wide face, smile, and a flat black hat. He is often portrayed holding a golden mallet, seated on bales of rice, with mice nearby (mice signify plentiful food).

The strongest pillar in a home is called the "Pillar of Daikoku", daikokubashira　大黒柱.
The wife of a priest also is called "Daikoku sama"　大黒さま.


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Papermachee Daruma Dolls from Tama


©　hisamaro




© popyah:　多摩大黒達磨


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Made by Kamehachi 亀八 from Shuuchi gun Mori choo 周智郡森町 (Aichi)
His real name was Muramatsu Shin-ichi 村松新一.
Daikoku stands on two rice barrels and has rather large ears.
Therefore it is also called
mimitsuki Daruma 耳つきだるま Daruma Daikoku with large ears

Often also listed as a figure from Shizuoka.
Kamehachi also made figures of Mori no Ishimatsu.

. Folk Toys from Aichi .

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© PHOTO :　だるまさん色々

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. Usagi Daikoku 兎大黒 and Rabbit Toys .


. Lucky Mouse and Daikoku
福ねずみ fuku nezumi .



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Daikoku Daruma from Okuni Shrine
小国神社　大黒だるま
- reference source : okunijinja.or.jp -


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by Tosa Mitsufumi (Mitsubumi)


uchide no kozuchi 打ち出の小槌 hammer of Daikoku.
the mallet of good luck
fuku kozuchi 福小槌 lucky hammer, mallet of Daikoku

. fuku kozuchi 福小槌 lucky mallet art motives .

. Daikoku and Ebisu 大黒と恵比寿　art motives .


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Little Daruma and Little Daikoku



Little Daruma and Little Daikoku
By Satoshi Kako

More books about Daruma and his little friends.

だるまちゃんとかみなりちゃん Kaminari-chan, the Thunder Boy
だるまちゃんととらのこちゃん Tora, the little Tiger
だるまちゃんとだいこくちゃん Daikoku, the God of Good Luck
加古 里子 Kako Satoshi
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/home/oshima/Daruma.htm


Little Daruma and Little Tengu
Daruma Museum

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Okuni-Nushi no Mikoto (ookuninushi) 大国主命
was the most important deity, revered at the grand shrine of Izumo, Izumo Taisha 出雲大社.
Okuni-Nushi is also known as the god of happiness and marriage. In this respect, he is equivalent to the Buddhist Deity of Daikoku-Sama　大黒、大国.

Gods are absent (kami no rusu) and Haiku

. Izumo Taisha 出雲大社 Izumo Grand Shrine .


. Daikoku zukin 大黒頭巾（だいこくずきん） hood like Daikoku
kigo for all winter

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aburakake Daikoku, abura kake 　油掛大黒　/ 油かけ大黒天
if you pour oil over this Daikokuten, he will bring you good luck.


source :　hundred390.rssing.com
at the temple 身延別院　Minobu Betsuin in Tokyo
Nihombashi Kodemmacho 3-2,Chuo-ku,

There are other statues of this type in Japan.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

- reference : 油掛大黒天 -


. aburakake Jizo　 油懸地蔵 .

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Daikokuten (Mahaakaala, Mahakala)

Wahrscheinlich japanische Version der hinduistischen Gottheit Shiva.
Andere Bezeichnung: Kara-Ten, Maha Kara-Ten. Kara bedeutet schwarz, daher in Japan Daikoku "Großer Schwarzer Ten". Älteste Statuen mit furchterregendem Gesichtsausdruck als Schutzgottheit der Religion. Später als Gott für Essen und Trinken wurde er in der Küche über dem Herd plaziert und immer schwarz vom Ruß, daher vieleicht auch "Großer Schwarzer Ten."

Auch als Gott für Kriegsglück sowie Glück und Tugend verehrt. In Lagerhallen und in der Küche von Tempeln verehrt, daher auch die Bezeichnung "Daikoku-Säule" (daikokubashira) für die tragende Säule eines Hauses. In der Muromachi-Zeit wurden mehr Felder angelegt und mehr Reis angebaut, daher auch ein freundlich lächelnder Daikoku auf Reisballen stehend und einen Hammer schwingend. Mit dem Hammer wird das Stroh geklopft, um daraus Sandalen und allerlei nützliche Gegenstände zu flechten. Viele Sandalen, gutes Geschäft, also Gott des Reichtums und eines blühenden Geschäftes.
Seit der Muromachi-Zeit wurden Daikoku, Bishamon und Benten als drei Inkarnationen der gleichen Gottheit angesehen. Steinfiguren in den Feldern, denen heute noch lange gegabelte Rettiche geopfert werden.

Ikonografie:

Trägt eine Entenmuschel-Mütze (eboshi).
Ursprünglich als Kriegsgott mit schwarzer Hautfarbe; drei Köpfe und sechs Arme, mit furchterregendem Gesichtsausdruck. Steht auf einem Lotusblätter-Sockel.

Später seit der Heian-Zeit mit einem oder drei Köpfen und zwei Armen. Wenn die Köpfe nebeneinander nach vorne gerichtet angeordnet sind, wirkt die Statue besonders breit und untersetzt. [gesehen im Mampukuji, Kamakura]. In dieser Form seit der Muromachi-Zeit einer der sieben Glücksgötter. Steht auf zwei Reisballen. Trägt Reisbündel oder Glückshorn, aus dem er Wohlstand spendet. In der erhobenen Hand einen Hammer. Trägt einen Sack auf dem Rücken. Manchmal Mäuse neben der Statue.

Japanische Gottheit Ookuninushi no Mikoto entspricht Daikokuten (Daikokujin). (Ookuninushi brachte den Reisanbau nach Japan.)
Oder sitzende Figur, mit einem Geldsack auf dem Schoß. Ein Bein herunterhängend.

Zusammen mit Ebisu als Doppelfigur.
Gruppe mit Daikokuten in der Mitte und den anderen sechs Glücksgöttern drumherum: Daikoku Mandala 大黒曼陀羅, 大黒曼荼羅.

© Gabi Greve
Buddhastatuen (Buddha statues) Who is Who
Ein Wegweiser zur Ikonografie von japanischen Buddhastatuen

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. uma-nori Daikoku 馬乗り大黒 God Daikoku on a horse .
Yamagata, Sakata town, Tsuruoka town - papermachee doll

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Statue of Daikoku at
. Arima Tosen Shrine 有馬 湯泉神社 Toosen Jinja .


. WKD : New Year Ceremonies

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Daikoku Menkeki Neko

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. kotowaza　諺　/ ことわざ idioms, sayings, proverbs - ABC-List .

ishibiri 石びり someone stingy, stinginess

xx-biri (hiru ひる) means to loose excrements and dribble urine.
Once upon a time, someone asked Daikoku sama to HIRU some gold and silver for him. But Daikoku only dribbled stones to the man.


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. hashiri Daikoku 走り大黒 / 波之利大黒天 .
running Daikoku Ten / walking Daikoku at Nikko

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Shotoku and Daruma

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. Legends about Prince Shotoku .
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Shotoku Taishi and Daruma
聖徳太子とだるま
Shootoku Daishi and Daruma


Imperial Prince Shotoku, 574-622

How Shootoku Taishi, the Prince Imperial, met a dying beggar:
When Shootoku Taishi walked along the village of Kataoka　片岡, he met a poor man and gave him a purple cloth. But the man died the next day. When they opened his grave, there was no body found, just the purple cloth folded nicely.
"This must have been Daruma, the Founder of Zen" was the verdict of Shootoku Taishi. So "It takes a holy man to recognize another holy man!"

Quoted from here:
Daruma with one Sandal 隻履達磨 Sekiri Daruma .

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According to a later Japanese tradition, Bodhidharma did not return to India but traveled on to Japan. This version, propagated by the Tendai school, associates Bodhidharma with Shootoku Taishi, who came himself to be considered an avatar of the Tiantai master Nanyue Huisi (517-77). We are told that Shootoku Taishi one day met a starving beggar at the foot of Mt. Kataoka (in Nara Prefecture) and exchanged a poem with him. The strange literate beggar was first identified as an immortal in the Nihon shoki. His further identification with Bodhidharma rested upon another widespread legend, according to which Huisi had once been Bodhidharma’s disciple.

When the two first met on Mount Tiantai, Bodhidharma predicted that they would both meet again in a next life in Japan. This legend grew with the cult of Shootoku Taishi in the medieval period, and there is still a Daruma Temple at Kataoka, not far from Horyuuji — a monastery associated with Shootoku Taishi.

Daruma, Smallpox and the color Red, the Double Life of a Patriarch
Bernard Faure

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Nihon Shoki
Translation by W.G.Aston

Chapter 22

Year 613, 12th month, 1st day

The Prince Imperial (Shootoku Taishi) took a journey to Katawoka (Kataoka). Now a starving man was lying by the roadside. He asked his name, but there was no answer. The Prince Imperial, seeing this, gave him to eat and to drink, and taking off his own raiment, clothed with it the starving man, saying to him: "Lie in peace".
Then he made a song, saying:

Alas! For
The wayfarer lying
And hungered for rice
On the hill of Katawoka
(The sunshiny)
Art thou become
Parentless?
Hast thou no lord
Flourishing as a bamboo?
Alas ! For
The wayfarer lying
And hungered for rice !

2nd day

The Prince Imperial sent a messenger to see the starving man. The messenger returned and said: "The starving man is already dead."
Hereupon the Prince Imperial was greatly grieved and accordingly caused him to be buried at that place, a mound erected and firmly closed.

Many days after, the Prince Imperial called for his personal attendants and said to them: "The staraving man who was lying on a former day on the roadside was no ordinary man. He must have been an upright man."

A messenger was sent to see. On his return he reported that when he went to the mound and made inspection, the heaped-up earth had not been disturbed, but on opening the tomb and looking in, there was no corpse. It was empty and there was nothing but the garment folded up and laid on the coffin.
Thereupon the Prince Imperial sent the messenger back a second time to fetch the garment, which he continued to wear as before.

The people of that time wondered much at this, and said:
"How true it is that a sage knoweth a sage."
and they stood more and more in awe of him.

Reference

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達磨寺 Darumadera, Temple in Oji, Kataoka
奈良県北葛城郡王寺町本町2-1-40



飢人伝説（きじんでんせつ）

gijin densetsu Legend of the Hungry Beggar

に基づいて開かれた達磨寺は、達磨大師の墓と伝えられる古墳の上に本堂が築かれています。鎌倉～室町時代には興福寺や東大寺の僧兵に放火されたりしましたが、室町幕府の将軍、足利義満・義持・義教らの支援を得て再興されました。平成１６年４月には、老朽化に伴って再建された新本堂が完成しています。
寺内には、重要文化財として木造達磨坐像・木造聖徳太子坐像・達磨寺中興記石幢があり、奈良県指定文化財として方丈があります。毎年４月１１日には、達磨会式が行われています。
　© www.town.oji.nara.jp

This temple has been erected in the 13th century, in honor of the legend of Shotoku meeting Daruma. Nearby is the temple Hoko-Ji (Hookoo ji) 放光寺, which Shotoku had erected in his lifetime. Katakoa Shrine 片岡神社 is also nearby.
Every April on the 11th there is a memorial service for Daruma Daishi 達磨会式.


In the temple garden is a memorial stone with respect to the meeting of the two.
「達磨寺中興記石幢」
It was errected in 1448 with the wish to resurrect this temple to new life.
The Daruma statue was constructed in 1430, with the help of the Muromachi bakufu government. The "grave of Daruma" is worshipped in this temple compound.



The temple also has an old painting of the Nirvana Scene of Shakyamuni Buddha, which you can find on the source LINK.
source : 　mahoroba.lib.nara

Two Scrolls inside the Temple
Shotoku and Daruma


© PHOTO :　www9.ocn.ne.jp/~oji-syo

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Daruma statue at the temple in Kataoka



Nara National Museum, Exhibition in 2003

Darumadera is located in Ôjichô, adjacent to Ikarugachô, in the middle west area of Nara Prefecture. When Crown Prince Shôtoku, who is called Shôtoku Taishi in Japanese, left his palace at Ikaruga-no-Miya for Kataoka (located within Ôjichô) he encountered a starving man beside the road. The man turned out to be an incarnation of the great saint Bodhidharma, who is known as Daruma-Daishi in Japanese.

It is said that the remains of this incarnation of Daruma Daishi were interred in the mound of the tumulus found beneath the main hall of Darumadera.
Given this legend as background, statues of Shôtoku Taishi and Daruma Daishi became the main worship objects of Darumadera.

The temple also possesses a Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara, Senju Kannon, which once placed in the temple's guest hall, and Buddhist paintings, such as an image of the Buddha's Nirvana, Jpns., Butsunehan-zu.

The temple also houses various artifacts recovered from archaeological excavations conducted in recent years. As the main hall of the temple has recently been rebuilt, the three statues of Daruma Daishi, Shôtoku Taishi, and Senju Kannon have been entrusted to Nara National Museum, allowing the museum to devise this special exhibition during which all the works of art of Darumadera can be viewed at once.
source : 　Nara National Museum




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Darumaji Temple, Ōji Town, Nara Prefecture
Excarvation report

Darumaji is a temple whose maintaining a tradition of being founded on the legendary story of Prince Shōtoku and a starving man at Mt. Kataoka; the temple’s main hall stands above the tomb (kofun) said to be the starving man’s grave.

In an excavation of lower strata conducted in conjunction with repairs to the main hall, a small stone chamber was detected with a stone stupa deposited in upright position. A square hole had been carved into the body of the stupa, in which a haji ware lidded vessel had been placed, within which a quartz crystal reliquary in the shape of a Five Elements Stupa was found, in which a relic had been placed.

A stone stupa, ordinarily erected above ground, being deposited in an underground stone chamber in upright fashion, is exceedingly rare.
From a typological examination of the artifacts, including the stone stupa, and the results of investigations in the vicinity of the main hall, the deposit is inferred to have been made around the mid 13th century.


As the grave (kofun) of the starving man, held to have been an incarnation of Bodhidharma, was repaired at about the same time that Darumaji was founded, it is thought that the stone stupa was deposited in connection with the repair of the tomb. These artifacts and features may be evaluated as showing a new facet of Buddhist relic belief that was popular nationwide in the Medieval period.

Look at more photos here too.
source : 　archaeology.jp . Okajima Eishō, Yamada Takafumi

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More Japanese reference: 達磨寺　片岡


Daruma Mound / Kofun

Click here for more photos of the area !

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Read the details of this
First Great Patron of Buddhism in Japan
Shōtoku Taishi　(Shoutoku)
by Mark Schumacher


quote
Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子, Shōtoku Taishi)
February 7, 572 – April 8, 622)
also known as Prince Umayado (厩戸皇子, Umayado no ōji) or Prince Kamitsumiya (上宮皇子, Kamitsumiya no ōji), was a semi-legendary regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan who served under Empress Suiko.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


Crown Prince Shoutoku has another name: Umayado that means
"a prince born in a stable".
The situation of the birth of Shoutoku remind us of the one of Jesus Christ.
Hata Kawakatsu founded Kooryuji Temple at Uzumasa, Kyoto in 603 and became the most influential brain of Crown Prince Shoutoku. the regent of Emperess Suiko.
source : gensei/ten

. The Hata Clan 秦氏　Hata Uji .
and the Korean and Christian connection

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quote
Prince Shōtoku and the Ninja
Did you know that Prince Shōtoku, known as a great reformer of ancient Japan, used ninja? Some speculate that it was his ninja that gave the prince the reputation of being 'super human' or magic. The prince appointed Ôtomo Hosohito to the office / role of 'Shinōbi (志能備・志能便)'.
Does this make Ôtomo the head of state intelligence, or an actual ninja? Let's look into it. Incidentally, it's sort of funny that his name, Ôtomo Hosohito (大伴細人), is similar to 'saisaku (細作)', an old name for spies... in fact, one might say that it's even slightly suspicious...
*Kanji is ateji / man'yōgana and is not necessarily indicative of meaning.
Well, who was Ôtomo Hosohito? He is mentioned in relation to Shōtoku-taishi in the Ninjutsu Ōgiden, a late Edo period document. For context, Shōtoku-taishi lived during the 6th century (Asuka period) and the Ninjutsu Ōgiden (忍術應義伝) was written around 1800, though it naturally claims to be considerably older.
Now, stop me if you've heard this one before, but the legend goes that Ôtomo Hosohito was taught ninjutsu by a mysterious old man who also passed onto him secret scrolls. It is said that Ôtomo Hosohito is the true founder of the Kōka ninja. Hosohito met Shōtoku-taishi when the prince fled to Kōka after losing a battle to Mononobe Moriya. Hosohito tied Shōtoku-taishi's horse to cedar tree and disguised him by using a ninjutsu technique so that Moriya's men rode on by without detecting him. Apparently the site of this miracle is called Basugi (馬杉, 'Horse Cedar') to this day.
Thereafter the prince asked Hosohito to spy on the Mononobe Clan and obtain information. Hosohito also tried to lure Mononobe Moriya to Kōka. Eventually Moriya was defeated at Mount Shigi in nearby Nara, and thereafter Shōtoku-taishi gave Hosohito the title of 'Shinobi', which meant 'one proficient in obtaining information'. Hosohito was the eyes and ears of Prince Shōtoku.
The Sōga Clan's victory over the heretical Mononobe Clan is credited to spying. In the parlance of the time then Shinobi meant 'spy' and the state used these spies to gather information on political rivals and the Imperial Court. Prince Shōtoku is said to have been well informed thanks to his shinobi. The prince himself is said to have superhuman abilities, being able to hold up to ten different conversations simultaneously and respond in kind to each.
Shōtoku-taishi is also said to have recruited a man named Hata Kawakatsu, an ancestor of the Hattori Clan, and so perhaps Iga ninjutsu also can be traced back to the Asuka period too? The Hata are said to have used their commercial activities as a front for information-gathering, and apparently Shōtoku-taishi had the Hattori Clan gather information in Iga and Ise.
So is any of this true? Or is it Edo period fantasy?
The academic consensus is that these stories are not to be accepted as fact, as they originate in Edo period ninjutsu scrolls which sought to establish ancient origins for their schools or documents. In another document, the Iga Mondō Ninjutsu Kazamurai no Makoto (which I'll just casually translate as 'Ninjutsu - True Stories of the Iga warriors'), for example, ninjutsu can be traced back to Emperor Jimmu, Japan's (legendary) first Emperor (traditionally dated to ruling from -660BC). The Ninjutsu Ōgiden's story is very creative, but it cannot be corroborated with any prior documents and originates there, making it very unlikely to be anything other than invention.
Spies were probably used in ancient Japan, and it's possible that Prince Shōtoku had even gained know-how from Sun Tzu's Art of War, given his thirst for knowledge from the continent, but that's as far as we can reasonably go with this; Ninja Snopes rates this one as 'mostly false'. I wrote this after seeing the Ninjutsu Ōgiden's contents presented as fact in a small museum.
. Adam Robert Turner .

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Daruma Temples in Japan . Darumaji, Daruma-Ji . Darumadera

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guchikiki Taishi - Taishi listening to your complaints
ぐち聞き太子





川越八幡宮　八幡神社
埼玉県川越市南通町19-1　－ Saitama Hachiman Jinja

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Exhibition Osaka Municipal Museum of Art, May 2008



"Prince Shotoku:
Treasures from the Kawachi Santaishi"

at the Osaka Municipal Museum of Art presents treasures drawn from Eifuku-ji, Yachu-ji and Taiseishogun-ji temples in Osaka Prefecture, which are all connected to Prince Shotoku (574-622). A regent and politician in the Asuka Period (late sixth to early eighth centuries), Prince Shotoku authored in 604 the Seventeen Article Constitution, a Confucianism-based document that is considered to be the first statutory law in Japan. Deeply admired by many followers, his connection to the three Osaka Prefecture temples has made them a popular destination since around the Nara Period (710-784). "Pictorial Biography of Prince Shotoku," a set of seven paintings illustrating important events in the life of Prince Shotoku, was created sometime during the 14th to 16th centuries.
This exhibition celebrates the completion of the set's restoration at Eifuku-ji, with colors that return to their original state fromalmost 500 years ago.
©　Japan Times


聖徳太子 ゆかりの名宝
河内三太子 叡福寺・野中寺・大聖勝軍寺

© PHOTO : taishi.exh.jp


. Haiku and Temple Horyu-Ji 法隆寺 　

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Shotoku Taishi figure 聖徳太子の尊像
from Temple Hokke-Ji 法華寺

This was an amulet, sold at the temple, but is not produced lately any more.

. Folk Toys from Nara .

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.................... H A I K U

.Tennooji shoojin ku 天王寺生身供 (てんのうじしょうじんく)
Birthday Ritual
shari dashi 舎利出し（しゃりだし）"showing of the sacred bones" .
Shitenno-ji, Osaka 四天王寺
kigo for the New Year

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Shooryoo-E 聖霊会 Memorial Ceremonies for Shotoku Taishi
Taishi Memorial Service, Taishi E .. 太子会 (たいしえ)
kigo for mid-spring

陰暦二月二十二日 22nd day of the 2nd lunar month
Now celebrated in March at temple Kooryuuji 広隆寺 Koryu-Ji in Kyoto.

float for Taishi, taishi yama 太子山（たいしやま)
kigo for late summer

This is a float in rememberance of Shotoku Taishi, the founder of the temple Shitenno-Ji. To get the wood for the construction, Shotoku went to the nearby forest by himself to search, pray and purify the trees before they where felled.

This float is used during the great Gion Festival (Gion-E 祗園会), another kigo for late summer. This is a famous festival of Kyoto City and will be described elsewhere.


© PHOTO gionfest.htm


External LINK
Kyoto Gion Festival

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Prinz Shootoku, Prinz Shotoku
(Shootoku Taishi)

Er wird als eine Inkarnation von Kannon Bosatsu angesehen. Im Inneren seiner Statue findet sich manchmal eine kleine Kannon-Statue so plaziert, daß der Kopf sich in Höhe des Mundes von Prinz Shootoku befindet.
Dadurch wird zum Ausdruck gebracht, daß seine Worte direkt die Worte der Gottheit sind.

.Buddhastatuen ... Who is Who 　　
Ein Wegweiser zur Ikonografie
von japanischen Buddhastatuen
Gabi Greve, 1994

- ###shotokutaishi ##shootokutaishi #shotokudaishi -
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. Legends about Prince Shotoku .
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]

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Daruma Mudra

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Daruma Mudra

Quote

E. has a portrait of Bodhi Dharma in his office with his hands in this mudra and so I call it Daruma's Mudra.



As far as I know, the mudra of the hands is not the be all end all. I think that it comes down to preference or teacher's preference. Above are some of the most common mudras, I have left a few out, including the ones in which you place your hands on your knees. I think that hand mudras have 2 major purposes.
1) they give you a fixed place for your hands so that you do not keep on moving them during meditation.
2) they bring focus to your abdominal area or dan tien (tanden) chakra about 2 inches below your navel.


Cosmic Mudra


Theravada Mudra

© Shugyo by Thomas has a lot more !


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mudra of preaching the Dharma (dharma-cakra-pravartana)




The Sign Language of the Deities 神様の手話、仏様の手話



Click on this photo to go to a Japanese page with all the mudra and gestures of Esoteric Buddhism.

真言密教,九字の印など





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Let us explore the iconography of mudras a bit more.

Read the ENGLISH explanations of
Mark Schumacher:
MUDRA - HAND GESTURES


Handhaltungen, Gesten (inzoo, inkei; mudraa)

Die meisten Kanji und Beispiele finden sich auf der Seite von Mark.

Die Handhaltungen drücken die verschiedenen Gelübde und Lehren der einzelnen Buddhas aus und dienen oft zur Identifizierung der Statuen. Die direkte Übersetzung von "inzoo" bedeutet eigentlich "Siegel".

Am häufigsten sind die normale Zen-Meditationshaltung, die Gesten Fürchtet Euch nicht!, Wunschgewährung, Drehen des Rades der Lehre und Anrufung der Erde als Zeuge.
Im esoterischen Buddhismus ist durch den Einfluß verschiedener Gottheiten die Anzahl der Handhaltungn stark angestiegen. Die Gläubigen versuchen, durch Nachahmung dieser Haltungen eine Vereinigung mit der Gottheit zu erlangen.


Abwehr von Unheil, Goosanze-Haltung (Goosanze-in 降三世印)

Geste des Goosanze Myôô, der die drei Grundübel des fleischlichen Leibes, Gier, Haß und Unwissenheit abwehrt.
Die mittleren von acht Armen sind vor der Brust verschränkt: Die kleinen Finger eingehakt, Ring- und Mittelfinger berühren den Daumen der jeweiligen Hand und die Zeigefinger ausgestreckt.


Amida-Meditationshaltung (Amida jooin)

Nur bei sitzenden Statuen in klassischer Meditationshaltung unterhalb des Nabels.
Die linke Hand mit der Handfläche nach oben im Schoß liegend, die rechte darüber. Daumen und Zeigefinger der gleichen Hand berühren sich bei Statuen des Amida Nyorai immer, im Gegensatz zu Statuen des Shaka Nyorai. Durch den Kreis wird die Vollkommenheit des buddhistischen Gesetzes ausgedrückt. Der Kreis der rechten Hand bedeutet die Welt des Buddha und der Kreis der linken die Welt der fühlenden Wesen.


Anrufung der Erde als Zeuge (goomain; shichiin; sokujiin, sokuchiin)

Geste der Erdberührung des Shaka Nyorai. Als Shakyamuni in tiefer Meditation saß, kam der Teufel in verschiedenen Formen, um ihn zu verführen. Mit dieser Haltung hat Buddha sich von seinem Versucher Maara abgewendet und rief die Göttin der Erde als Zeuge an, daß er die Erleuchtung erlangt habe. Die Rechte symbolisiert die unumstößliche innere Haltung des Buddha, die Linke sein Wirken für die Menschheit.

Rechte Hand in Meditationshaltung unterhalb des Nabels; linke Hand über den gekreuzten Beinen nach unten, mit ausgestrecktem Zeigefinger zur Erde. Auch umgekehrt, mit rechter Hand nach unten.
Diese Geste findet sich häufig in Indien und Südostasien, seltener aber in Japan.


Drehen des Rades der Lehre (tenpoorinin, temboorin, seppooin, tenbourin-in)

Diese Haltung symbolisiert die erste Lehrrede des Shakyamuni an seine Jünger im Hirschpark in Saranath, mit der er sozusagen das Rad seiner Lehre in Bewegung gesetzt hat (shotenpoorin).
In der Shingon-Sekte wird dabei durch die linke Hand die Mutterschoßwelt und durch die rechte Hand die Diamantwelt symbolisiert.
Beide Hände vor der Brust erhoben, rechte Handfläche nach außen, linke nach innen, rechter Daumen und Zeigefinger berühren sich, restliche Finger gestreckt; linker Daumen und Mittelfinger berühren sich, Zeigefinger auf Daumengelenk der rechten Hand, Ring- und Kleinfinger gebeugt.


Echte Hände (shinju 真手)

Vor der Brust ausgestreckt gefaltete Hände einer Tausendarmigen Kannon und anderer vielarmiger Gottheiten. Siehe auch gefaltete Hände.


Erlösungshaltung (raigooin, Mida gooshooin)

Geste des Amida Nyorai, der die Seelen der Menschen nach dem Tode zum Paradies des Westens geleitet.
Daumen und Zeigefinger jeder Hand sind zu einem Kreis verbunden; rechte Hand erhoben, linke gesenkt auf dem linken Knie. Die Haltung entspricht einer Kombination der Gesten Fürchtet Euch nicht! und Wunschgewährung.


Fürchtet Euch nicht! (semuiin)

Geste der Furchtlosigkeit und "Schutzgewährung". Der japanische Begriff I bedeutet: sich fürchten. Diese Geste zeigt den Menschen, daß es nach dem Gesetz des Buddha nichts mehr zu fürchten gibt, besonders nicht den Tod.
Rechte (selten auch linke) Hand zur Brust erhoben, Finger nach oben ausgestreckt, Handfläche nach vorne weisend. Linke Hand oft in der Geste der Wunschgewährung.


Gefaltete Hände (gasshooin, gasshooju)

Menschen falten die Hände, wenn sie die Gottheit anbeten und eine Bitte aussprechen. Die linke Hand symbolisiert den Menschen, die rechte die Gottheit. Die meisten Bosatsu haben 12 Formen dieses Anbetungsgestus.
Gestreckt gefaltete Hände vor der Brust.
Man unterscheidet im esoterischen Buddhismus auch zwischen den verschränkt gefalteten Diamant-Händen (kongoo gasshoo) und den nicht verschränkt gefalteten Lotus-Händen (renge gasshoo).


Meditationshaltung (jooin, zenjooin, hookai jooin)

Ausdruck der tiefen Ruhe und Meditation.
Geste des Shaka Nyorai (zenjooin) und Dainichi Nyorai in der Mutterschoßwelt (hookai jooin); Handflächen im Schoß überein~ander, Daumen berühren sich. Die rechte liegt auf der linken Hand. In Indien ist die rechte Hand die saubere, mit der auch gegessen wird und die linke die Schmutzige. Wenn man daher in der Meditationshaltung mit der reinen Hand die schmutzige abdeckt, bleibt der Körper und der Geist rein.
Nur bei Statuen des Amida Nyorai berühren sich Daumen und Zeige~finger der gleichen Hand (Amida jooin); bei Statuen des Shaka Nyorai berühren sich nur die Daumen beider Hände.
Siehe auch Amida-Meditationshaltung.


Medizintopf-Haltung (yakkoin 薬壺印)

Spezielle Geste des Yakushi Nyorai. Über den in Meditationshaltung gefalteten Händen steht der Medizintopf.


Mitleidshaltung (chikenin)

Geste der Weisheitsfaust. Auch Karman-Haltung (katsuma in) oder Höchste Erleuchtungsgeist-Haltung (saijoo bodaiin) genannt.
Geste der Macht des Dainichi Nyorai der Diamantwelt. Rechte Hand bedeutet der Buddha, linke Hand bedeutet die Menschen.
Beide Hände in Brusthöhe. Linker Zeigefinger nach oben ausgestreckt, Daumen von drei Fingern eingeschloßen. Rechter Daumen und Zeigefinger berühren den linken Zeigefinger an der Fingerspitze, die anderen Finger umfaßen den Zeigefinger. So treffen sich drei Fingerspitzen an einem Punkt.


Nachdenkliche Haltung (hanka shuigyoo, shiyui, shui 半跏思惟)

Häufig bei Miroku Bosatsu, der nachdenkt, wie er die Menschen der zukünftigen Welt erretten kann.
Sitzende Figur mit dem linken Fuß nach unten auf dem Boden und rechter Fuß auf linkem Knie. Den rechten Ellbogen auf dem rechten Knie, die Hand am Kinn, zwei Finger auf die Wange ausgestreckt; in tiefem Nachdenken den Kopf leicht zur Seite gebeugt.


Neun Handhaltungen des Amida (kuhon no in)



Die Neun Handhaltungen des Amida Nyorai, mit denen er die neun verschiedenen Stadien (kuhon no sekai) des Paradieses des Westens darstellt.

Die Daumen und jeweils ein Finger jeder Hand berühren sich, die anderen drei Finger sind ausgestreckt.
Beide Hände im Schoß in Meditationshaltung: jooshoo;
beide Hände vor der Brust erhoben: chuushoo;
eine Hand erhoben, die andere zur Erde gestreckt: geshoo.

Dabei berühren sich jeweils zwei Finger: Daumen und Zeigefinger: Joobon; Daumen und Mittelfinger: chuubon; Daumen und Ringfinger: gebon. Als Kombination ergeben sich dann "joobon jooshoo" usw.
"BON" drückt die Tiefe des Glaubens aus, "SHOO", wieviel gute Werke getan wurden. Eine Statue mit den Händen jeweils in der mittleren Stellung (chuubon chuushoo) drückt aus, daß dieser Amida ganz normale Menschen rettet, die mäßig glauben und mäßig gute Werke getan haben.


Pferdekopf-Haltung, Pferdemaul-Haltung (bakooin 馬口印, makooin, Batoo Myooin)

Geste der Pferdeköpfigen Kannon mit mehreren Armen.
Mittlere Hände in Gebetshaltung nach unten gerichtet; Daumen, Mittelfinger und kleiner Finger gestreckt, Zeigefinger und Ringfinger gekrümmt; oder Daumen, Zeigefinger und Ringfinger gekrümmt, Mittelfinger und kleiner Finger gestreckt.


Überkreuzte Arme (daishinin 大瞋印（だいしんいん）)

Geste des Gundari Myôô. Die mittleren von acht Armen sind vor der Brust gekreuzt.


Wunschgewährung (yoganin)

Diese Geste zeigt, daß ein Buddha alle Bitten gewährt, wenn der Mensch sie nur wirklich in der Tiefe seines Herzens ausspricht. Es ist die grundlegende Geste zum Versprechen von Wohlergehen in dieser Welt (genze goriyaku) bzw. zum Auslöschen des Leidens, das ja eigentlich die Ursache für unsere Bitten ist.

Bei sitzenden Statuen der linke (selten der rechte) Ellenbogen angewinkelt, die Handfläche nach oben über das Knie ausgestreckt; alle Finger gestreckt, Ringfinger und kleiner Finger manchmal gebeugt. Bei stehenden Stauten die linke Hand nach unten hängend. Rechte Hand meist in Geste Fürchtet Euch nicht! erhoben.

©　Gabi Greve
Buddhastatuen (Buddhastatues) Who is Who
Ein Wegweiser zur Ikonografie von japanischen Buddhastatuen



Mudra of Fudo Myo-O 不動明王印


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Why does Daruma have his hands under his robe?
Read the answer HERE !
This anti-mudra then can be
a symbol of the wordless transmission.


. Jimotsu ... 持物 - What is Daruma holding? 　


My Literature Register

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Bishamonten

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Legends about Bishamonten .
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Bishamon-Ten . 毘沙門天
Tamonten (Vaishravana)



Bishamon is the god of warriors (but not of war) and prayed to for victory prior to battle. He is also a god of defense against foreign invaders, a deity of healing with the power to save emperors from life-threatening illness and to expel demons of plague, to keep personal enemies at bay, and to reward followers with riches, good fortune, and even children. Around the 15th century, he was enlisted as one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods owing to his association with treasure and wealth.

Bishamonten is usually clad in armor, with a spear in one hand and a pagoda in the other. He is the scourge of evil doers, and the most powerful among the Guardians of the Four Directions.

The Shigisan Engi Emaki 信貴山縁起絵巻 (Illustrated Handscroll of the Legends of Mt. Shigi), was painted in the 12th century as a tribute to Bishamon's miraculous power to ward off illness and expel the demons of plague. It includes the story of how Bishamon cured Emperor Daigo 醍醐天皇 (885-930) by dispatching Kumāra 倶摩羅 (Bishamon's youthful dōji 童子 attendant) to help the sick emperor.

Mark Schumacher has all the details !

Bishamonten helps those born on the day of the tiger, in the hour of the tiger and in the year of the tiger.
He is especially venerated with tiger amulets at Mount Shigisan and Mount Kurama.
The tiger in the Asian zodiac represents the north-east, the direction of evil influences (kimon　鬼門). Thus Bishamon helps to protect in this direction.

. komainu 狛犬 / 高麗犬 / 胡麻犬 "Korean Dog" .


- Click for more photos !
Stone tigers like Komainu in front of Bishamon temples.

Bishamonten and Tiger Toys of Japan
Mount Shigisan and the Tiger
. Tora トラ　- 虎　- 寅　Tiger Toys .

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Prayer for his strength:

"Namu Tobatsu Bishamonten!
To subjugate the demons! Grant me thy power!"


Click on the photo to look at more statues !


source :　hidemichitanaka.net

成島毘沙門天 Narushima Bishamonten
The largest statue in Tohoku, made from one stem of keyaki wood, 4.73 meters high.

Iwate, Hanamaki 岩手県花巻市東和町北成島５－１

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Bishamonten Jin Jinja 毘沙門天神神社
Bishamon Tenjin Jinja
Shrine for the God Bishamonten in Tono, Iwate




source : dostoev.exblog.jp - 遠野不思議

. Tono Jisha Meguri　遠野寺社巡り　
temples and shrines in Tono, Iwate .

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Bishamonten Festival and Daruma Market



Bishamonten Festival in Fuji
富士、毘沙門天大祭

Bishamonten is one of the Four Great Deities (shi tenno　四天王) , who protect Buddhism in the four courners of the world.
He is also one of the Seven Gods of Good Luck (shichi fukujin　七福神).

This festival occures according to the old lunar calendar, so the date is shifting from December to February at the Temple Myoho-ji (Myoohoo-ji 妙法寺). Daruma dolls with a big beard are the speciality of this Daruma Market. This beard is one of the characteristics of the main deity, Bishamonten, of this temple. The road from the Yoshiwara station to the temple is lined with stalls and maybe more than 500.000 people are on their feet during the three days of this festival and more than 150.000 dolls are sold.

毘沙門天はだるま市が有名で、三大だるま市のひとつであることすら知らなかった。両脇の出店に売られているだるまの数は、良くこれだけの数を集めたかと感心するぐらい大量の数である。今まで見てきた数の何十倍以上のだるまが、両側に所狭しと並べられている .



Look at a Daruma stamp from the station :
. 吉原宿, Yoshiwara-juku .

Hige ひげだるま　髭だるま

Daruma with a beard


©　PHOTOS　http://f801.at.webry.info/


Bishamonten Festival Telephone Card




Japanese LINK
角田市鳩原毘沙門堂奉納絵馬

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Papermachee Doll of Bishamonten-Badger
Bishamon Tanuki 毘沙門狸


だるまNEWS　Nr. 18. Daruma News

It has the Sanskrit Sylable (bonji　凡字) for this deity on the belly:



. Tanuki　狸 Badger amulets and Talismans .

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The Bishamondo Hall in Yamashina Kyoto
毘沙門堂



This temple is most famous for the red autumn leaves (momiji), which form a red carpet on the stone stepp acces road to the temple.



It also has a "moving" painting on the fusuma sliding door, when you walk past it, the table seems to change from very small to very large.
宸殿襖絵 - 狩野益信の作 from the Kano School

MORE : www.bishamon.or.jp

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Bishamonten dorei 毘沙門天　土鈴 clay bell


Bishamonten ema 毘沙門天　 絵馬 votive plaque


Bishamonten hariko 張子papermachee doll


Bishamonten omamori 毘沙門天 お守り amulets

. Shichifukujin　七福神 Amulets .

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. . . . . H A I K U

Bishamonten and Atago
kigo for the New Year

Messenger from Bishamonten
Bishamon no tsukai 毘沙門の使 (びしゃもんのつかい)
毘沙門の使神
The Centipede is the Messenger of Bishamonten.
Ceremony at Atago, Atago no shinji 愛宕の神事（あたごのしんじ）
Messenger from Atago, Atago no tsukai 愛宕の使（あたごのつかい）
. . . o-koto no tsukai お事の使（おことのつかい）

Hatsu Atago, hatsu Atago 初愛宕 (はつあたご) First visit to Atago

In former times it was known that people who believe strongly in the Atago Deity will die on the special day dedicated to Atago 縁日の日, the 24th of each month. Legend says Saizo felt his death coming, made his preparations on the day before and then died in the evening of the Atago Day in the 6th lunar month.
. Kani Saizō Kani Saizo 可児才蔵 .


Hiroshige: Messenger to the Bishamon Temple. Shiba Mount Atago
広重『江戸名所図会』［芝愛宕山］

This is a ceremony on January 3 at the temple Enpuku-Ji in Atago/Kyoto.

Priests from various temples around gather here to celebrate the eating of the first white rice in large portions.
Suddenly the Messenger from Bishamonten appears (with two others) in special colorful robes. He wears a samurai's helmet and a large staff in the form of a rice spatula (shamoji 杓子）, whith which he stabs the earth three times.

The messenger (retainer) of Bishamon was thought of as a centipede (mukade, hyakusoku 百足 ), who also protected the gold mines. Centipedes are said to possess an ability to spot gold mines. Therefore people used to carry centipedes in bamboo tubes when they went to the mountains in search for gold.

These messenger centipedes are different from ordinary ones. There is something glossy and noble about them, and they appear in a drawing room, sitting room, and in the places Kojin deities and water gods preside over. You must not kill them by mistaking them for common centipedes. You may take their appearance for a sign of some change in your happiness and prosperity.


愛宕山円福寺毘沙門の使ひ
©　coocan.jp

. mukade 蜈蚣 と伝説 Legends about the centipede .

毘沙門の使ひの百足 殺めしも
Bishamon no tsukai no mukade ayameshimo

centipede, you messenger
of Bishamonten -
I will honorably kill you

- 　tahata masuhiro

a dragonfly
does the 100 prayers circuit -
Mount Atago

Kobayashi Issa and the Prayer Wheel


. The Atago shrines of Japan .

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The warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin both used a centipede on their flags.


sashimono 指物／差物／挿物 war flag
mukade 無加天、蜈蚣

"WKD : Centipede gold coin", mukade koban . 百足小判
Bishamonten and Temple Kurama, First Day of the Tiger

. WKD : Kurama Festivals 鞍馬山 　

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Centipede, Millipede (mukade) KIGO


Tsuba sword decoration with design of Bishamon and centipede
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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Bishamonten Festival


Twinkling Orion
in the dark blue sky
the festival of Bishamon temple

People wait the midnight bells
start of the sutra
Full of smoke of incense sticks

Sharpen cold air
The long line of People
Under Orion

- 　etsuko yanagibori , 2008

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Bishamonten is often shown together with Fudo Myo-O.
毘沙門天と不動明王 - or rather a look-alike

Shitoku Dooji 指徳童子 Shitoku Doji


source :　kyobibutsuzou.com 不動三尊


source :　www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~kazu_san

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

External LINKS

Stone Carvings of Bishamonten and Fudo Myo-O
Mori Hachimangu, Kyoto

Stone Statues of Bishamonten and Fudo Myo-O
Shikoku

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Ema votive tablet with Kannon, Fudo and Bishamonten

BACK TO

Saijiki of Japanese Ceremonies and Festivals

. 俵藤太秀郷 Tawara Tota .
and the legend of the centipede at Lake Biwa

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..... Bishamonten, Tamonten (Vaishravana).....

Entstand aus einer hinduistischen Gottheit der Krokodile (Kubira).
Selbständige Version des Tamonten der vier Himmelskönige.
Lebt nördlich vom Heiligen Berg Kailash im Himalaya.
Nach der Theorie des Weltenberges lebt er als oberster Ten zusammen mit Taishaku Ten in der Welt der 33 Ten-Gottheiten (sanjuusan ten), dem Bezirk Tooriten (Traavastrimsa).

Gott des Reichtums, den er an gute Menschen verteilt. Beschützer der Kannon.

In China als Bewacher der oft rebellischen Nordregionen besonders verehrt. Der japanische Fürst (1530-1578) hielt sich für eine Inkarnation des Bishamonten.Uesugi Kenshin 上杉謙信
In Japan auch einer der sieben Glücksgötter. Dabei gewährt er die Gnade: Sofortige Zerstörung der sieben Übel und sofortige Gewährung der sieben Glückseligkeiten (shichinan kokumetsu shichifuku sokushoo).

Manchmal mit Mäusen zusammen abgebildet (Mäuse zerkauen die Bogensehnen der Feinde).
In gesonderter Halle verehrt zusammen mit Statue des Kichijooten als weiblicher Figur. (Kichijooten wahrscheinlich als Gattin oder Schwester des Bishamonten.)

Ikonografie:
Hohe Krone. Dreizack mit langem Stab oder dem Stab der Lehre in der rechten Hand; linke Hand mit der Pagode des Gesetzes hoch erhoben. Bei manchen Figuren, oft als Tamonten, werden diese Gegenstände gerade umgekehrt gehalten. Chinesische Rüstung mit Brust- und Beinpanzer. Auf dem Brustpanzer der Kopf eines wilden Meeresteufels, symbolisiert, daß Bishamonten früher wohl eine Meeresgottheit war.

Steht auf einem wilden Meeresteufel. Später wurde dieser Teufel auch "Amanojaku" genannt.
Eigentlich handelt es sich dabei um Kobolde (jaki), die nach der Theorie des Weltenberges Sumeru in der Welt unterhalb der vier Himmelskönige leben und auf Befehl mit ausziehen, um die Feinde des Buddhismus zu zerstören.

Zusammen mit Fudoo Myo- als Begleitfigur eines Nyorai oder Bosatsu.

Besondere Statuen:

Tobatsu Bishamonten 兜跋毘沙門天



Bewacht das Königreich Tobatsu im Westen. "Tobatsu" bedeutet möglicherweise Tibet (Toban), es bedeutet auch: einen wallenden Mantel tragen.
Wurde als Schutzgottheit der Burg-Städte besonders verehrt. In China in Anxi (Anseijoo) soll Tobatsu Bishamonten vor der belagerten Stadt erschienen sein und die Feinde vertrieben haben.

Trägt einen wallenden Mantel über der Rüstung und einen langen Stab mit drei Zacken in der rechten sowie eine Pagode in der linken Hand.
Steht auf den Dämonen Biranba, Niranba oder auf der Erdgottheit Jiten (Chiten). Diese Gottheiten ragen mit dem Oberkörper aus einem Felsensockel und tragen Bishamonten auf den hoch erhobenen Händen. Manchmal auch hohe Krone mit Vogelkopf.

©　Gabi Greve
Buddhastatuen (Buddhastatues) Who is Who
Ein Wegweiser zur Ikonografie von japanischen Buddhastatuen

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. Enkū 円空 Master Carver Enku (1632 - 1695) .



at temple Hoozenji 宝泉寺 Hosen-Ji. Gifu 関市. This temple has more Enku statues and is dedicated to Fudo Myo-O.
source : tabinoashiato.blogspot.jp


source : enkukobo.cocolog-nifty.com/blog
The wood is hinoki ヒノキ cedar.


CLICK for more photos !

Bishamon standing on a demon 邪鬼.
The wood is ichi-i 一位 yew tree.

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. Legends about Bishamonten .

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