seppou-in　説法印

KEY WORD :　 art history / sculptures

Lit. The exposition of the Dharma mudra. A mudra or hand gesture *in 印 symbolizing the preaching by the Buddha. It is formed by holding the right hand with the palm turned outwards in front of the chest in the manner of the *semui-in 施無畏印 and joining the thumb and forefinger (e.g., *Yakushi 薬師 enshrined in Yakushiji Kondou 薬師寺金堂 in Nara) or the thumb and middle finger (e.g., *Rushanabutsu 盧舎那仏 enshrined in Toushoudaiji *Kondou 唐招提寺金堂 in Nara). In the iconography of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, the mudra formed by joining the thumb and forefinger of the right hand is known by various names such as vitarka-mudra(mudra of argumentation), karana-mudra (mudra of (religious) action) and vyakhyana-mudra (mudra of exposition), and the Sino-Japanese term seppou-in is probably a translation of vyakhyana-mudra. There are some Japanese scholars who refer to the *tenbourin-in 転法輪印 (Sk:dharmacakra-mudra) as seppou-in, while others regard the dharmacakra-mudra and vyakhyana-mudra as being identical. According to various interpretations found in Japan (e.g., Gohou 杲宝 [1306-62], DAINICHIKYOUSHO ENNOUSHOU 大日経疏演奥鈔), the seppou-in formed by joining the thumb and forefinger can symbolize the Dharma-body, hosshin 法身 (Sk: dharmakaya). Joining the thumb and middle finger can symbolize the recompense-body, houjin 報身 (Sk: sambhoga-kaya). Joining the thumb and third finger can symbolize the transformation-body, oujin 応身 (Sk: nirmana-kaya). No similar interpretation is, however, to be found elsewhere in Asia. Because of the ambiguities associated with the term seppou-in, it has become general practice in the study of Buddhist art in present-day Japan to use concrete descriptions, such as thumb and forefinger joined, when referring to this mudra .

REFERENCES:

EXTERNAL LINKS:

NOTES:

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission. 掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。