An excursion into Buddhism: different types of Buddhist images & their meaning
- sinjahaag
- 15. Jan.
- 4 Min. Lesezeit
Aktualisiert: 6. März
Foreword
Religion in its diverse interpretations, facets and dogmas has always been a fascinating phenomenon to me, as it is closely connected to societal development, governmental forms, ethically & morally- shaped behaviour patterns (oftentimes based on dogmas) and intrinsic beliefs on the earthly & cosmic life spiral. Hence, the through socialisation acquired cornerstones of religious beliefs can give deriving information on why people think, act and behave in certain ways. In the end, cultural and herewith connected religious imprints are a matter of inherent & acquired perspectives.
Buddhism
In contrast to other world religions, Buddhism is not a theistic religion with one almighty god to pray for. Rather, it is a spiritual way of life, based upon philosophical- logical pillars of teaching, such as The Four Noble Truth, The Eightfold Path, The Three Universal Truth, Karma & Rebirth. The overarching aim is to seek for self-redemption through practical matters, such as meditation, rituals & offerings. Generally speaking, Buddhism can be divided into three main branches: Theravada (mainly Southeast Asia), Mahayana (mainly in Japan, Korea & China) and Vajrayana (mainly India).
Different Types of Buddhist Images
Connected with these branches come different appearances of Buddhist images, which sometimes might be difficult to classify, if you are not aware of their respective meaning. To give some guidance, I put together a comprehensive overview on different Buddhist images* that will support you in recognising and understanding different Buddhist images & their respective meaning when e.g. visiting temples in Japan (and across Asia).
*The main source of information comes from the Nara National Museum that offers a great exhibition on Buddhism on its ground floor for free, if you are interested!
Different Types of Buddhist Images at Glance:
In general, there are four major divisions amongst Buddhist Images:
In addition to the above, further images relate to:
Buddhas (J. Nyorai)
Images of Buddhas, referred to as Nyorai in Japanese, also known as Tathagata ("Thus Come One") are modelled after the enlightened form of Sakyamuni (an Indian prince who attained enlightenment). These enlightened beings possess characteristics that indicate their special existence compared to ordinary human beings.
Features of Buddha Images
Head & Forehead:
Protrusion on top of the head of each Buddha image symbolises abundant wisdom.
The forehead usually contains a crystal between the eyebrows or a single white long hair coiled into a spiral mark.
Hairstyle:
Buddhas are characterised by long hair coiled to the right in small ringlets, shaped like snail shells.
Neck:
A total of three wrinkles represent wordly desires, each of which has been transcended.
Hand Gestures:
Hands form different shapes of mudra, conveying different meanings.
Clothing:
Is very simple; ropes wrapped around the body.
Bosatsu (Skt. Bodhisattva)
Bosatsu, or bodhisattvas, are modelled after "Buddha Sakyamuni", a former Indian Prince of a small kingdom who attained enlightenment. The varying types of bodhisattvas usually play a role in rescuing people or other sentient beings.
Features of Bodhisattva Images
Facial expressions:
Bodhisattvas obtain a gentle face expression, watching over us.
Clothing:
Inspired by attires of ancient Indian princes, bodhisattvas usually wear accessories around their neck, arms and wrists.
Myoo (Skt. Raja)
Myoo are important deities in the pantheon of esoteric Buddhism, commonly known as mikkyo in Japan. Through their fierce appearances, they obtain power to guide those not following the teachings back onto the right track. They are also are able to conquer any kind of force.
Features of Myoo Images
Facial expressions:
Myoo usually appear quite wrathful and may have multiple faces and arms, such as this exemplary statue obtaining a third eye on his forehead, an intent stare and fangs out of his mouth.
Flames in the background:
The flames behind any type of Myoo symbolizes power to burn away any sort of troubles and doubts.
Weapons carried:
Weapons can be used for cutting away worldly desires and any form of trouble. They can also be used as esoteric ritual implements.
Types of Myoo
Myoo are represented through the Five Great Wisdom Kings. The four Wisdom Kings centred around Fudo Myoo distinguish themselves through eight arms and a frightening appearance and other features, such as snakes wrapped around ones neck, arms and legs, as shown with the figure of Gozane Myoo.
Heavenly Beings (Skt. Deva)
Heavenly beings, or rather deities, also referred to as ten in Japanese, originated from ancient Indian gods and/or devas. They serve the protectionism of Buddhist teachings and its adherents. Sometimes depicted in the attire of Chinese nobility and warriors, these deities can als appear as goddesses.
Features of Heavenly Beings Images
Vehicles and Pedestals:
Heavenly beings stand atop of demons, rocks, platforms and lotus leaves (never on lotus pedestals of Buddhas though!).This is due to the fact that they serve aus guardians of the Buddhist world.
Clothing:
Their attire is characterised by wide- sleeved Chinese- style garments with trousers and footwear. They are usually depicted in armour or with muscular torsos. In many cases, their attire closely resembles human beings.
Attributes:
Deities oftentimes carry weapons or distinctive items to protect the Buddhist world.
Types of Heavenly Beings
The Twelve Divine Generals protect the Medicine Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai (Skt. Bhaisajyaguru) in twelve directions. Due to a total of twelve directions, they are also associated with Chinese zodiac, especially since eeach of them contains a zodiac animal on their head.
Shinto Deities, Priest Portraits & Other Statues
Ancient gods of Japan were not depicted visually in former times. With the rising influence of Buddhism in Japanese culture, starting in Nara Period (710 - 794) and onwards, more and more statues of Japanese deities were visually created. Just as statues, portraits of historic figures, who had a significant influence in Buddhist history, were produced.
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