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joudo hensou@ς“y•Ο‘Š
KEY WORD :@art history / iconography
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Abbreviation of joudo hensou-zu ς“y•Ο‘Š}. Also known as joudo mandara ς“y™ΦδΆ—…. Pictorial representations, often schematically arranged *hensou •Ο‘Š, of Buddhist Pure Lands or paradises, joudo ς“y. Strictly speaking, a joudo hensou is a figural representation of the Pure Land of one of the various Mahayana Buddhist deities, which include the Buddhas *Yakushi–ςŽt, *Shaka Žί‰ή, and *Miroku –νθΣ, along with bodhisattvas :*bosatsu •μŽF such as *Kannon ŠΟ‰Ή. The earliest, most popular and longest tradition is the depiction of * Amida ˆ’–ν‘Ι. Indeed, the term joudo hensou is often taken to indicate a depiction of Amida's paradise gokuraku ‹ΙŠy (Sk: Sukhavati); also known as the Western Paradise saihou joudo Ό•ϋς“y although this is more properly called *Amida joudo hensou ˆ’–ν‘ɏς“y•Ο‘Š. The different forms of Amida depictions include: paintings on hanging scrolls, screens, and walls; low relief in bronze and clay; and embroidered versions. The term joudo ς“y (Ch: qingtu) is derived from Chinese translations of the sutras, and not from any single Sanskrit term. It signifies the idealized paradisiacal realm where any one of the multitude of Mahayana Buddhas, or bodhisattvas destined to become Buddhas, resides. Descriptions of these pure lands are found in various sutras; figural representations may be based on these texts or on visions and dreams. Although many variations exist, a typical Amida joudo hensou depicts the Buddha Amida in the center preaching, flanked on either side by attendant bodhisattvas. The triad is surrounded by a heavenly group of bodhisattvas. In the foreground, several reborn bodhisattvas are shown seated on lotuses in a jeweled pond. In the background stands a splendid palace with jeweled towers. Accordingly, hensou •Ο‘Š (Ch: bianxiang), or just hen •Ο (Ch: bian), refers to illusionary manifestations or representation of Buddha figures and their realms. The term hensou is also associated in China and later in Japan with performances by preachers or storytellers and therefore the illustrations typically have narrative content. The oldest extant Chinese joudo hensou are dated to the late 6c. From the 7c there are numerous depictions of Amida's Pure Land and some representations in the paradises of other Buddhas, including wall paintings of the Dunhuang (Jp: Tonkou “ΦΰŠ caves; late 6c/7c-10c). In Japan, evidence of joudo hensou dates back to 7c. There are many well-known examples that date from 8c when Japan was under the influence of continental Tang culture. They include: wall paintings of Four Buddhas *shibutsu Žl•§ and Paradises, in Houryuuji *Kondou –@—²Ž›‹ΰ“°, scorched in 1949; The Lotus Cosmos of Roshana *Rushanabutsu αΈŽΙ“ί•§, or rengezou sekai ˜@‰Ψ‘ ’ŠE (Kegonkyou hensou ‰ΨŒ΅Œo•Ο‘Š), carved on the lotus petal throne of the Great Buddha *Daibutsu ‘啧 of Toudaiji “Œ‘εŽ›; Vulture Peak ryouzen joudo —μŽRς“y of Shaka *Hokekyou hensou –@‰ΨŒo•Ο‘Š from Toudaiji *Hokkedou –@‰Ψ“° ; and the woven *Taima mandara “––ƒ™ΦδΆ—… in Taimadera “––ƒŽ›, Nara (8c), that may have been imported from China. In the 8c literary sources indicate the production of other joudo hensou as well, but from around the 10c (the latter Heian period) the popularity of Amidist beliefs led to the dominance of Amida joudo hensou. The principal variations of these Amidist paintings are often called the "Three Pure Land Mandalas" *joudo sanmandara ς“yŽO™ΦδΆ—…: *Chikou mandara ’qŒυ™ΦδΆ—…, Taima mandara, and *Seikai mandara ΄ŠC™ΦδΆ—…. Another variety of closely related paintngs are the *Kangyou hensou ŠΟŒo•Ο‘Š.
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