The 17th Great Treasure Exhibition - "Tathagata Statues of Mount Koya" Exhibit List
July 20, 1996～September 23
Greetings
We are grateful that many people came to view the exhibits held as special exhibitions at the Koyasan Great Treasure House and Reihokan Museum, including "Statues of the Myo-o of Mt. Koya" in 1993, "Various Deities of the Heavenly Realm" in 1994, and "Statues of the Bodhisattva of Mt. Koya" in 1995.
This time, we will be holding a special exhibition entitled "The Tathagata Statues of Mt. Koya."
Tathagata means one who is born from Tathagata (truth or true nature), and is the original Buddha, one who has already attained enlightenment (an enlightened one).
Buddhism is a religion founded by Shakyamuni, who was born as a human being, existed in history, and was enlightened and became a Buddha, which is considered to be Tathagata. In Hinayana Buddhism, Shakyamuni is worshipped exclusively, but in popular Buddhism, doctrines have developed in a diverse way and many Tathagatas have been devised. These include Yakushi, Dainichi, Vairocana, Maitreya, and Amitabha Tathagata, and each of these Tathagatas has their own Pure Land (Pure Land) and is considered the chief deity of the Pure Land. In these Pure Lands, many bodhisattvas practice asceticism under the guidance of the Tathagata, and when the Tathagata is enshrined as an object of worship, the bodhisattvas who follow the Tathagata are Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva for Shakyamuni Tathagata, and so on.
This time, we will be holding a special exhibition entitled "The Tathagata Statues of Mt. Koya."
Tathagata means one who is born from Tathagata (truth or true nature), and is the original Buddha, one who has already attained enlightenment (an enlightened one).
Buddhism is a religion founded by Shakyamuni, who was born as a human being, existed in history, and was enlightened and became a Buddha, which is considered to be Tathagata. In Hinayana Buddhism, Shakyamuni is worshipped exclusively, but in popular Buddhism, doctrines have developed in a diverse way and many Tathagatas have been devised. These include Yakushi, Dainichi, Vairocana, Maitreya, and Amitabha Tathagata, and each of these Tathagatas has their own Pure Land (Pure Land) and is considered the chief deity of the Pure Land. In these Pure Lands, many bodhisattvas practice asceticism under the guidance of the Tathagata, and when the Tathagata is enshrined as an object of worship, the bodhisattvas who follow the Tathagata are Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva for Shakyamuni Tathagata, and so on.
Yakushi Nyorai is sometimes associated with Nikko, Gakko Bodhisattva, or the Twelve Heavenly Generals. Amitabha Nyorai is sometimes associated with Seishi and Kannon Bodhisattva, etc.
The Tathagata figures of esoteric Buddhism are represented by the Five Buddhas of the Garbha Realm (Garbha of the Garbha Realm, Treasure Box, King of the Opening Flower, Amitabha, and Heavenly Drum and Thunder Sound Buddha) who make up the Garbha Realm Mandala, and the Five Buddhas of the Vajra Realm (Vajra of the Garbha Realm, Akshobhnaka, Treasure Box, Amitabha, and Amoghasiddhi Buddha) who make up the Vajra Realm Mandala.
The image of a Tathagata is that of a naked monk wearing a robe, with no ornaments and with spiral-shaped hair, but Dainichi Nyorai is an exception, as he is in the form of a bodhisattva wearing a jeweled crown and ornaments on his chest, arms, wrists, and ears, as well as glittering clothing.
The image of a Tathagata is that of a naked monk wearing a robe, with no ornaments and with spiral-shaped hair, but Dainichi Nyorai is an exception, as he is in the form of a bodhisattva wearing a jeweled crown and ornaments on his chest, arms, wrists, and ears, as well as glittering clothing.
This is said to be the form that shows that the Buddha is the central figure. These Buddhas are extremely valuable artistically, due to their highly sophisticated aesthetic sense and technical skill in creating and depicting them based on profound and difficult scriptures and rituals.
We hope that this special exhibition will allow you to fully appreciate the essence of esoteric Buddhist art and the Tathagata statues preserved at Mount Koya, and that it will deepen your interest and understanding.
July 20, 1996 Director of Koyasan Reihohan Museum Koei Yamaguchi