jimotsu　持物

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Also read jibutsu. Sk: lakasana. The hand-held attributes of a Buddhist image. Along with the mudra *in 印, hand-held attributes help identify a particular image, its character and role. However, many attributes are used by more than one image and each deity is not always consistent in its possession of a certain attribute. Records of the deities with their various jimotsu exist in *giki 儀軌 (ritual manuals), and *ZUZOUSHOU 図像抄 (Iconographic compendia). Some of the oldest Japanese examples of these iconographic records include the *KAKUZENSHOU 覚禅鈔 (Compilation of Kakuzen), and the *BESSON ZAKKI 別尊雑記 (Miscellaneous notes on individual deities), compiled from the late 12c to early 13c, which provide illustrations of most of the Buddhist deities with their attributes. Well-known examples of jimotsu include: the yakuko 薬壷 (medicine jar) of *Yakushi 薬師, the healing Buddha; the *shakujou 錫杖 (pilgrim's staff) of *Jizou 地蔵; the *kenjaku 羂索 (snaring rope) of *Fudou Myouou 不動明王; the *houju 宝珠 (wish-granting jewel) of *Kichijouten 吉祥天; the biwa 琵琶 (lute-like instrument) of *Benzaiten 弁財天; and the various weapons used for the protection of Buddhism by the *shitennou 四天王. *Senju Kannon 千手観音 is usually represented with 42 arms and almost every hand holds an important Buddhist symbol. The attributes include *houbyou 宝瓶 (vase), juzu 数珠 (rosary), *kebutsu 化仏 (miniature Buddha), *houra 法螺 (shell), houkyuu 宝弓 (bow), kyuuden 宮殿 (palace), goshikiun 五色雲 (five-colored clouds), dokuro 髑髏 (skull), renge 蓮華 (lotus), *hossu 払子 (fly-whisk), kohei 胡瓶 (Persian vase or bird-headed vase), *houkyou 宝篋 (sutra box), *kongousho 金剛杵 (vajra), teppu 鉄斧 (iron axe), budou 葡萄 (grapes), youryuu 楊柳 (willow), among others. Aside from the purely symbolic meaning, each attribute functions to help the worshipper. For example, in the context of Senju Kannon, the youryuu helps to remove illness, the hossu removes hinderances, and the kohei helps to attain harmony.

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