Uhou douji　雨宝童子

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

An abbreviation of Kongou sekishou zenshin uhou douji 金剛赤精善神雨宝童子. A manifestation of the Buddha *Dainichi 大日 and a *honjibutsu 本地仏 of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu Oomikami 天照大神, a female god believed to bring good fortune and to protect against natural disasters. Her name also suggests that she was worshipped as a deity who brought needed rain. Uhou douji is said to have been the form in which Amaterasu Oomikami came down to earth from heaven. representations in art resemble the female deity *Kichijouten 吉祥天, usually with a *gorintou 五輪塔 (five-ring pagoda) on her head, a vajra staff kongou houbou 金剛宝棒 in her right hand, and a jewel *houju 宝珠 in her left hand. She may stand on a white tanuki 狸 (raccoon). She may, along with one of the Dragon Kings (see *ryuu 龍), accompany *Kannon 観音. There are few examples of Uhou douji dating from before the mid-14c. The earliest sculptural example from Kongoushouji 金剛証寺 in Mie prefecture, is thought to have been be made in the Kamakura period although there are many traces of later restorations. The statue of Uhou douji in Hasedera 長谷寺 in Nara, is called Sekishou douji 赤精童子 and is paired with Nanda ryuuou 難陀竜王 (a honjibutsu of Kasuga daimyoujin 春日大明神) as an attendant to *Juuichimen Kannon 十一面観音 (Eleven-headed Kannon).

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