sanzonbutsu　三尊仏

KEY WORD :　 art history / sculptures

Also sanzonzou 三尊像, sanzon 三尊. A set of three Buddhist deities appearing together. They form a triad with the principal image *chuuson 中尊 in the centre, and an attendant *kyouji 脇侍 on each side. Sanzonbutsu are often named according to the principal deity; for example Yakushi sanzonbutsu 薬師三尊仏 is a triad of *Yakushi 薬師 with two attendants, and Amida sanzonbutsu 阿弥陀三尊仏 shows *Amida 阿弥陀 with two attendants. Frequent triads include Amida appearing with *Kannon 観音 and *Seishi 勢至 as attendants, Yakushi depicted with *Nikkou Gakkou 日光・月光, and *Shaka 釈迦 with *Monju 文殊 and *Fugen 普賢. These groupings are based on Buddhist scripture and were firmly established in Japan in the Nara period, so statues made prior to this period do not necessarily follow this pattern. The Shaka sanzonzou 釈迦三尊像 in Houryuuji *Kondou 法隆寺金堂, Nara, for example, shows Shaka attended by Yakuou 薬王 and Yakujou 薬上. In the Heian period, with the introduction of Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou 密教, a large number and variety of sanzonbutsu were made. Especially important examples are the figures of *Fudou Myouou 不動明王 accompanied by *Kongara douji 矜羯羅童子 and *Seitaka douji 制た迦童子, and *Bishamonten 毘沙門天 attended by *Kichijouten 吉祥天 and Zennishi douji 善膩師童子.

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