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Hannya bosatsu@”ΚŽα•μŽF
KEY WORD :@art history / iconography
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In full Hannya-haramitsu (or Hannya-haramitta) bosatsu ”ΚŽα”g—…–¨(”ΚŽα”g—…–¨‘½)•μŽF. A bodhisattva *bosatsu •μŽF personifying hannya-haramitsu (Sk:prajna-paramita) or the the process of the perfection of wisdom and, by extension, the sutra HANNYAGYOU ”ΚŽαŒo (Sk: Prajnaparamita sutra) of Mahayana Buddhism devoted to the exposition of this perfection of wisdom. These processes, usually six-fold, when performed perfectly, will allow one to cross from the shore of delusion and suffering to the shore of enlightenment. Since, therefore, this wisdom is considered to constitute the basis of enlightenment, Hannya bosatsu is also known as Butsumo •§•κ or mother of the Buddhas. For this reason, and also because in Sanskrit both prajna and pramita are feminine nouns, Hannya bosatsu is generally depicted in female form. Her worship was very popular in Indian Buddhism, and the texts describe a variety of forms, but a feature common to most forms is that she holds a volume of scriptures representing the HANNYAGYOU. In Japan she is sometimes invoked instead of *Shaka Žί‰ή during the daihannya-e ‘ε”ΚŽα‰ο, a service dedicated to the ritual reading of the 600-fascicle translation of the HANNYAGYOU by Xuanzang (Jp: Genjou ŒΊšχ ; 600/602-664). Where works are related to this ritual she is depicted either alone or surrounded by the Sixteen Protectors of Shaka *juuroku zenjin \˜Z‘P_ believed to protect those who recite the HANNYAGYOU. In Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou –§‹³ Hannya bosatsu appears in the Womb World Mandala *Taizoukai mandara ‘Ω‘ ŠE™ΦδΆ—…@as the central figure in the Jimyouin Ž–Ύ‰@ (with six arms and clad in armour) and as a personification of one of the 'ten perfections' in the Kokuuzouin ‹•‹σ‘ ‰@ (with two arms). There is also a mandala known as Hannya bosatsu mandara ”ΚŽα•μŽF™ΦδΆ—… centred on Hannya bosatsu and variously described in different texts.
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(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.@No reproduction or republication without written permission.
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