Kokuuzou　虚空蔵

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

Sometimes read Kokuzou. Space/Sky Repository (Sk:Akasagarbha, Khagarbha); also called Kokuuyou 虚空孕 and in Japan often confused with Kokuuko 虚空庫 (Sk: Gaganaganja). A bodhisattva *bosatsu 菩薩 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 求聞持法. 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 五智宝冠, which carries small figures of the five Buddhas of Wisdom *gochi nyorai 五智如来. He holds his right hand in a wish-granting mudra *yogan-in 与願印 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 額安寺 (Nara) dating from the Nara period. The three images enshrined at Hourinji 法輪寺 (Kyoto), Kongoushouji 金剛証寺 (Mie prefecture), and Enzouji 円蔵寺 (Fukushima prefecture), are collectively known as the three Kokuuzou, San kokuuzou 三虚空蔵. He also appears in both the Matrix Mandala *Taizoukai mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅 and Diamond Mandala *Kongoukai mandara 金剛界曼荼羅. In the Taizoukai mandara he is the central figure in the Kokuuzou-in 虚空蔵院 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 釈迦 in the Shaka-in 釈迦院 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 賢劫十六尊 wherein he corresponds to Gaga naganja. He is also identified with Kongouhou 金剛宝 (Sk:Vajraratna) among the 16 great bodhisattvas juuroku daibosatsu 十六大菩薩 and he is the last of the so-called Thirteen Buddhas *juusanbutsu 十三仏, presiding over the memorial service held on the 32nd anniversary of a person's death. There is a Kokuuzoubosatsu mandara 虚空蔵菩薩曼荼羅 centered on Kokuuzou and there is a pentad called the Five Great Kokuuzou Bodhisattvas Godai Kokuuzou bosatsu 五大虚空蔵菩薩 which are manifestations of the Five Buddhas gobutsu 五仏 of the Kongoukai mandara and are invoked in the Godai Kokuuzouhou 五大虚空蔵法, an esoteric rite for fulfilling wishes and averting misfortune. The names and descriptions of these five vary, but in the YUGIKYOU 瑜祇経 they are called Hokkai kokuuzou 法界虚空蔵, Kongou kokuuzou 金剛虚空蔵, Houkou kokuuzou 宝光虚空蔵, Renge kokuuzou 蓮華虚空蔵 and Gyouyou kokuuzou 業用虚空蔵. There is a set of five images at Kanchi-in 観智院 in Touji 東寺 (Kyoto) brought from Tang China in 847 by Eun 恵運 (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 神護寺 (Kyoto) which are seated on lotus pedestals dates from the mid-9c, and has been designated a national treasure.

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