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Monju@•ΆŽκ
KEY WORD :@art history / iconography
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An abbreviation of Monjushiri •ΆŽκŽt—˜ (also Manjushiri ™ΦŽκŽΊ—˜), which transliterates Sk.Manjusri. Also translated Myoukichijou –­‹gΛ, lit. exquisite auspicious one. The second most popular bodhisattva *bosatsu •μŽF after *Kannon ŠΟ‰Ή in Mahayana Buddhism. Regarded as the wisest bodhisattva, he appears in many Mahayana sutras as a leading interlocutor because of his debate with *Yuima ˆΫ–€ (Sk:Vimalakirti) in the YUIMAGYOU ˆΫ–€Œo (Sk:Vimalakirtinirdesa-sutra). Representations of this scene are found in both China and Japan (e.g., clay statues in Houryuuji Gojuu-no-tou –@—²Ž›Œάd“ƒ, Nara). He also plays an important role in the HANNYAGYOU ”ΚŽαŒo (Sk: Prajnaparamita-sutra), a text devoted to the exposition of 'wisdom' hannya ”ΚŽα. He is closely associated with *Fugen •Œ«, and together they serve as the two attendants of *Shaka Žί‰ή. In one version of the *Shaka sanzon Žί‰ήŽO‘Έ, Monju is positioned on the left of Shaka, symbolizing wisdom, and Fugen on the right, symbolizing praxis (practical reality). According to the KEGONKYOU ‰ΨŒ΅Œo (Sk: Avatamsaka-sutra), Monju resides on a mountain in the northeast, and in China this was identified as Wutaishan (Jp: Godaisan Œά‘δŽR), which became a major center of his cult. This cult was then introduced to Japan by the monk Ennin ‰~m (794-864), who visited Wutaishan during his travels in China (838-47). Many different forms of Monju, some with distinctive names, are described in various texts, but in Japan he is commonly represented riding a lion and holding a raised sword in his right hand, symbolizing the cleaving asunder of the clouds of ignorance. In his left hand he holds a scroll which represents the HANNYAGYOU and which is sometimes supported by a lotus. He is sometimes represented with four companions. The first is the youth Zenzai Douji ‘Pΰ“ΆŽq whose pilgrimage to 53 places in which he met 55 saints is described in the final chapter of the KEGONKYOU The other three are the king of Khotan (Jp: *Uten'ou —D“U‰€), the elder Saishou Rounin ΕŸ˜Vl and the monk Buddhapari (Jp: Butsudahari •§‘Ι”g—˜). This format is called the Monju quintet, Monju gosonzou •ΆŽκŒά‘Έ‘œ, and well-known statuary representations may be seen at Monjuin •ΆŽκ‰@ and Saidaiji Ό‘εŽ›, both in Nara. In a variation of this format, called Monju crossing the sea, Tokai Monjuzou “nŠC•ΆŽκ‘œ, Monju tokai-zu •ΆŽκ“nŠC}, Monju and his entourage are depicted on clouds crossing the sea (supposedly in the direction of Wutaishan). A painting of this group from the Kamakura period is kept at Daigoji ‘ηŒνŽ› in Kyoto and is designated a national treasure. In Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou –§‹³ Monju appears in the Womb World Mandala *Taizoukai mandara ‘Ω‘ ŠE™ΦδΆ—… in the central Chuudai hachiyouin ’†‘δ”ͺ—t‰@ holding a book in his right hand and a lotus surmounted with a five-pronged vajra in his left hand. As the central figure in the Monjuin he holds a lotus surmounted with a three-pronged vajra in his left hand. In the Diamond World Mandala *Kongoukai mandara ‹ΰ„ŠE™ΦδΆ—… he is identified with Kongouri ‹ΰ„—˜ (Sk:Vajratiksna) among the sixteen Great Bodhisattvas juuroku daibosatsu \˜Z‘ε•μŽF, and he also figures among the so-called Thirteen Buddhas juusanbutsu \ŽO•§, presiding over the memorial service held on the 21st day after a person's death Monju is said to have eight attendants *hachidai douji ”ͺ‘ε“ΆŽq, which appear in the Monjuin of the Taizoukai mandara. In addition there are various forms of Monju differentiated in accordance with the number of syllables in the corresponding mantra shingon ^ŒΎ, these being Ichiji Monju ˆκŽš•ΆŽκ (One-letter Monju), Goji Monju ŒάŽš•ΆŽκiFive-letter Monju), Rokuji Monju ˜ZŽš•ΆŽκ (Six-letter Monju) and Hachiji Monju ”ͺŽš•ΆŽκ (Eight-letter Monju), with ichiji monju, for example, guarding against natural disasters and nightmares. Similarly some representations of Monju are differentiated in accordance with the number of knots in which his hair is arranged, these being Ikkei Monju ˆκιŸ•ΆŽκ (One-knot Monju), Gokei Monju ŒάιŸ•ΆŽκ (Five-knot Monju), Rokkei Monju ˜ZιŸ•ΆŽκ (Six-knot Monju) and Hakkei Monju ”ͺιŸ•ΆŽκ (Eight-knot Monju), with Ikkei Monju, for example guarding against still childbirth and rain. There are also several varieties of manadala *mandara ™ΦδΆ—… centered on Monju. In the Tendai “V‘δ sect he is enshrined in temple dining halls in the form of a monk, Sougyou Monju ‘mŒ`•ΆŽκ as an embodiment of the ideal monk, and a similar form of Monju, Shousou Monju Ή‘m•ΆŽκ is found in the meditation halls of Zen temples. There is also an infant Monju, Chigo Monju ’tŽ™•ΆŽκ who is represented as a young boy since he is believed to be perennially young (in the scriptures his stock epithet is youthful ; Sk:kumarabhuta). There is also a rope-robed Monju *Joui Monju “κˆί•ΆŽκ based on a Chinese tale that is the motif in a Zen painting.
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(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.@No reproduction or republication without written permission.
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