@
Kokuuzou@‹•‹σ‘ 
KEY WORD :@art history / iconography
@
Sometimes read Kokuzou. Space/Sky Repository (Sk:Akasagarbha, Khagarbha); also called Kokuuyou ‹•‹σ›s and in Japan often confused with Kokuuko ‹•‹σŒΙ (Sk: Gaganaganja). A bodhisattva *bosatsu •μŽF who symbolizes unlimited wisdom and compassion, and is believed to be able to fulfill all wishes. He was introduced to Japan in the Nara period as part of an esoteric rite for improving one's memory GUMONJIHOU ‹•·Ž–@. Ever since he has been worshipped for his ability to bestow wisdom. In this capacity he is shown seated (with either both legs crossed or one leg pendent) wearing a five wisdoms gemmed diadem *gochi houkan Œά’q•σŠ₯, which carries small figures of the five Buddhas of Wisdom *gochi nyorai Œά’q”@—ˆ. He holds his right hand in a wish-granting mudra *yogan-in —^Šθˆσ and a jewel in the palm of his left hand which is raised level with his breast. A painting from the late Heian period kept at Tokyo National Museum is especially popular. An early example of a statuary image is the dry-lacquer image with wooden core at Gakuanji ŠzˆΐŽ› (Nara) dating from the Nara period. The three images enshrined at Hourinji –@—ΦŽ› (Kyoto), Kongoushouji ‹ΰ„ΨŽ› (Mie prefecture), and Enzouji ‰~‘ Ž› (Fukushima prefecture), are collectively known as the three Kokuuzou, San kokuuzou ŽO‹•‹σ‘ . He also appears in both the Matrix Mandala *Taizoukai mandara ‘Ω‘ ŠE™ΦδΆ—… and Diamond Mandala *Kongoukai mandara ‹ΰ„ŠE™ΦδΆ—…. In the Taizoukai mandara he is the central figure in the Kokuuzou-in ‹•‹σ‘ ‰@ wherein he wears a five-wisdom gemmed diadem, holds a raised sword in his right hand and a lotus surmounted with a jewel in his left. He appears as the right-hand attendant of *Shaka Žί‰ή in the Shaka-in Žί‰ή‰@ wherin he holds a fly whisk in his right hand and a lotus surmounted with a green gem in his left. In the Kongoukai mandara he is included among the 16 deities of the Auspicious Aeon, kengou juurokuson Œ«…\˜Z‘Έ wherein he corresponds to Gaga naganja. He is also identified with Kongouhou ‹ΰ„•σ (Sk:Vajraratna) among the 16 great bodhisattvas juuroku daibosatsu \˜Z‘ε•μŽF and he is the last of the so-called Thirteen Buddhas *juusanbutsu \ŽO•§, presiding over the memorial service held on the 32nd anniversary of a person's death. There is a Kokuuzoubosatsu mandara ‹•‹σ‘ •μŽF™ΦδΆ—… centered on Kokuuzou and there is a pentad called the Five Great Kokuuzou Bodhisattvas Godai Kokuuzou bosatsu Œά‘ε‹•‹σ‘ •μŽF which are manifestations of the Five Buddhas gobutsu Œά•§ of the Kongoukai mandara and are invoked in the Godai Kokuuzouhou Œά‘ε‹•‹σ‘ –@, an esoteric rite for fulfilling wishes and averting misfortune. The names and descriptions of these five vary, but in the YUGIKYOU ΰο‹_Œo they are called Hokkai kokuuzou –@ŠE‹•‹σ‘ , Kongou kokuuzou ‹ΰ„‹•‹σ‘ , Houkou kokuuzou •σŒυ‹•‹σ‘ , Renge kokuuzou ˜@‰Ψ‹•‹σ‘  and Gyouyou kokuuzou ‹Ζ—p‹•‹σ‘ . There is a set of five images at Kanchi-in ŠΟ’q‰@ in Touji “ŒŽ› (Kyoto) brought from Tang China in 847 by Eun Œb‰^ (798-869) where the figures are seated on a lion, elephant, horse, peacock and garuda (mythical bird) respectively. A set of five images at Jingoji _ŒμŽ› (Kyoto) which are seated on lotus pedestals dates from the mid-9c, and has been designated a national treasure.
@
@

@
REFERENCES:
@
EXTERNAL LINKS: 
@@
NOTES
@

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.@No reproduction or republication without written permission.
ŒfΪ‚ΜƒeƒLƒXƒgEŽΚ^EƒCƒ‰ƒXƒg‚ȂǁA‘S‚Δ‚ΜƒRƒ“ƒeƒ“ƒc‚Μ–³’f•‘»E“]Ϊ‚π‹Φ‚Ά‚ά‚·B
@