The 15th Great Treasure Exhibition - "Various Deities of Heaven" Exhibit List
July 20, 1994~August 31
Greetings
This time, Koyasan Reihokan will be holding the 15th Koyasan Great Treasure House Exhibition, "Various Deities of the Heavenly Realm."
Most of the Buddhas named "Ten" were deities from Brahmanism or other pagan religions, but when they were introduced into Buddhism, they were given concrete divinity and worshiped as guardian deities who protected Buddhism.It is said that these heavenly deities were given the name "Ten" because they reside in the heavenly realm.
Most of the Buddhas named "Ten" were deities from Brahmanism or other pagan religions, but when they were introduced into Buddhism, they were given concrete divinity and worshiped as guardian deities who protected Buddhism.It is said that these heavenly deities were given the name "Ten" because they reside in the heavenly realm.
Among the various deities, there are those such as the Four Heavenly Kings, Brahma, and Indra that were introduced to Buddhism early on in India and whose names appear in the scriptures. Their numbers increased with the establishment of esoteric Buddhism, and many were transformed or created under the influence of Chinese and Japanese religions.
These heavenly deities were originally depicted as male figures such as warriors who protected Buddhism or demons, but in Japan, statues of celestial maidens appeared, depicting female deities as beautiful and voluptuous.
Among Buddhist deities, they are considered to be supporting figures in the order of Tathagata, Bodhisattva, Myo-o, and Ten, and are considered to be close to us humans and easy to relate to. Among the various deities, there are those such as Kisshoten (the goddess of fertility) who has been worshiped as the principal image since early times, those such as Bishamonten who is worshiped alone as a guardian deity, and many others such as Kishimojin (the goddess of safe childbirth), Benzaiten (the goddess of good fortune), Daikokuten (the goddess of wealth), Koshin, Enma, and Shoten who are worshiped by the general public in the hope of direct worldly benefits.
Legend has it that Kobo Daishi also had faith in these deities, and many of these statues are enshrined at Mount Koya, with many of them being magnificent statues, some of which will be on public display for the first time.
It is our hope that this exhibition will arouse interest in the heavenly deities, enable visitors to discover the prayers and way of life of our ancestors who were religious, and inspire them with new ideas.
These heavenly deities were originally depicted as male figures such as warriors who protected Buddhism or demons, but in Japan, statues of celestial maidens appeared, depicting female deities as beautiful and voluptuous.
Among Buddhist deities, they are considered to be supporting figures in the order of Tathagata, Bodhisattva, Myo-o, and Ten, and are considered to be close to us humans and easy to relate to. Among the various deities, there are those such as Kisshoten (the goddess of fertility) who has been worshiped as the principal image since early times, those such as Bishamonten who is worshiped alone as a guardian deity, and many others such as Kishimojin (the goddess of safe childbirth), Benzaiten (the goddess of good fortune), Daikokuten (the goddess of wealth), Koshin, Enma, and Shoten who are worshiped by the general public in the hope of direct worldly benefits.
Legend has it that Kobo Daishi also had faith in these deities, and many of these statues are enshrined at Mount Koya, with many of them being magnificent statues, some of which will be on public display for the first time.
It is our hope that this exhibition will arouse interest in the heavenly deities, enable visitors to discover the prayers and way of life of our ancestors who were religious, and inspire them with new ideas.
Koyasan Reihokan Museum Director Koei Yamaguchi