Living Buddhist Statues In Early Medieval And Modern Japan

Book Summary

Large numbers of Buddhist believers regarded Buddhist statues in surprising ways in late- tenth and early eleventh century Japan. Examination of such questions of functionality contributes to a broader view of Buddhist practice at a time when Buddhism was rapidly spreading among many levels of Japanese society. This book focuses particularly on the function of the following types of images: "secret Buddhas" ("hibutsu"), which are rarely if ever displayed; Buddhas who exchange bodies with sufferers ("migawari" "butsu"); and masks of bodhisattvas used in a ritual called "mukaeko," Primary sources for these topics include collections of popular tales ("setsuwa"), poetry, ritual texts, and temple histories ("engi").

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