Yuima　維摩

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

Sk:Vimalakirti (pure reputation), Ch:Weimo. Indian Buddhist layman (Ch:jushi, Jp:koji 居士) famous for his profound understanding of Mahayana principles, Daijou Bukkyou 大乗仏教. A wealthy and well-educated family man from the central Indian town of Vaisali, Yuima was a paragon of Buddhist virtues despite his worldly attachments. As such, he was a favorite figure with Buddhist people particularly in China and Japan with their strong cultural emphasis on family responsibility. The YUIMAGYOU 維摩経 (Ch:Weimoching, Sk:Vimalakirti-nirdesa) tells of Yuima's life, including the famous incident in which Yuima, lying in a small house, is visited by *Monju 文殊 (Sk: Manjusri). The two men have a philosophical debate on the "gateway of the non-dual Dharama" in which Yuima demonstrates his superior understanding. This conversation, known as Yuimagyou hensou 維摩経変相 was often illustrated in both sculpture and painting. Yuima is typically shown as a bearded old man, seated with one knee raised, wearing a cowl, and holding a fly whisk. Yuima and Monju are depicted in extant early Chinese cave complexes such as Dunhuang (Jp:Tonkou 敦煌, notably in cave #103) and Yonggang (Jp:Unkou 雲崗, cave #6). The *hakubyou 白描 painting of Yuima attributed to Li Gonglin (Jp: Ri Kourin 李公麟, ca. 1040-1106; Tokyo National Museum), along with similar compositions in color, echo the style of now lost Tang period temple wall-paintings. In Japan, a painted clay diorama of the pagoda at Houryuuji 法隆寺 (858), Nara, contains the best-known example of Yuima. Other depictions of Yuima alone include wood sculpture at Hokkeji 法華寺 (8c), Nara, and by Joukei 定慶 in Koufukuji 興福寺, Nara. Paintings by Bunsei 文清 (1457; Yamato Bunkakan 大和文華館, Nara), Takuma Eiga 詫磨栄賀 (act. late 14c; Tokyo National Museum), Sesshuu 雪舟 (1420-1506; Daitokuji Kohouan 大徳寺孤篷庵, Kyoto), and Kanou Tan'yuu 狩野探幽 (1602-74; Sengakuji , Miyagi prefecture.) demonstrate the popularity of the theme with Japanese artists.

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