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hokkai jouin 法界定印 | ||||||
KEY WORD : art history / sculptures | ||||||
Lit. Dharma-realm meditation mudra. Hokkai 法界 is
the Dharma-realm, (Sk: dharmadhatu), and jouin is an abbreviation of *zenjou-in 禅定印 (meditation mudra). According to Japanese Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou 密教, *Dainichi 大日 is the embodiment of the wisdom of the essence of the Dharma-realm hokkai
taishouchi 法界体性智 (Sk: dharmadhatu svabhavajnana). A mudra or hand gesture formed
by placing both hands in the lap, right on top of left (sometimes left on top
of right), with the palms turned upwards and the thumbs touching each other. The
meditation mudra was one of the most popular mudras in Buddhist iconography, and
examples may be readily found in many types of Buddhist arts in Asia. But in Japan
the usage of the hokkai jouin was restricted. Images of *Amida 阿弥陀 did not generally use this type of meditation mudra, but another one traditionally
called *mida-no-jouin 弥陀定印. In Japan, the hokkai jouin was most frequently used as the mudra
of Dainichi in the Womb-World Mandala *Taizoukai
mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅. Zen priests preferred *Shaka 釈迦 (Sk: Sakyamuni) with the meditation mudra, in accordance with the custom of
Zen Buddhism, the position of both hands was frequently reversed. This is the
so-called Shaka in the style of the Zen sect. In
addition, several Buddhas and bodhisattvas had their attributes sanmayagyou 三味耶形 placed on their palms forming this mudra. For instance *Miroku 弥勒 has a *gorintou 五輪塔
(stura of the five elements) in his hands forming the hokkai jouin, while
*Yakushi 薬師 has a medicine pot
resting on his palm. The above innovations derived from the theories of Esoteric
Buddhism mikkyou, but because they came into vogue only after the Kamakura period, examples
in important works are rather rare. |
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(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System. No reproduction or republication without written permission. 掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。 |
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