Buddhist Paradise Flashcards
At what point did Buddhism become more accesible to the masses, what type of Buddhism was this?
Up until the 10th century, Buddhism was an eliete religion. You had to give up your life in a monastry is you wanted to practice as part of the lower classes, but the upper classes were regularly visited by Monks- so Buddhism re-enforced existing power roles.
Pureland Buddhism- A distilled form of Buddhism, that made it accesible to the masses. They believed in order to reach The Pureland, home of Amida Buddha, all you had to do was recite the Nenbutsu chant: which was simply the name of the Buddha. It revoloutionised Buddhism as it meant that regular people had a chance at salvation without dedicating their entire lives to the monastry.
Visual analysis of the statue of the nenbutsu chant coming from a monks mouth
Kuya, by Kosho, painted wood, 13th Century
This magnificent wooden carving is an artisitc masterpiece (Carved by Japanese sculpter Kosho) , it expertly transorms the invisible auditory words of the nenbutsu chant into visual sound, in the form of six characters. In its original state, the naturalism of the carved figure would have been enhanced by paint and inset crystal eyes. Although the specificity of this sculpture’s features suggests the likeness of an individual, the work is a posthumous portrait, created some two hundred years after the subject’s death. The person it depicts is a pureland Buddhist monk known as Kuya Shonin. He would often dance in the streets while chanting the word, therefore being called the “Sage of the Streets.” This motion and emotion is clearly visible in the artwork, as seen in his exspression and parted feet- one foot stepping forward. We also see sound through his outstreched hand, about to strike a gong.
Why are there such vivid descriptions of paradise in Pureland Buddhism?
Part of the nenbutsu is opening your mind to the Buddha, this includes the visual manefestation of yourself being greeted by the Buddha.
What is a Sutra
Buddhist scripture
What is the nenbutsu
Namu Amida Butsu
Quote from a Sutra on what Paradise is like
” flowers, perfume, ornaments, silken canopies and banners, and are surronded by exquisite sounds”.
Silk depicting Buddhist Paradise
TAIMA MANDALA
Ink, colour, gold on silk 14th cent
Beautifully full and symmetric and colourful immage of a lively paradise, at the top Bodhisattvas fly in on beautiful clouds streaming colour, the Amida Buddha is the large central focus. Flowers, fountains, musicians, everything one would want in a paradise. Oppulence exudes from the silk, a large one to aid in later visual manifestations. A way to motivate the practitioners.
In the afterlife, who are the two important Bodhisattvas flanking the Amida Buddha
Kannon- he holds the BUddha’s lotus throne
Seishi- Usually flies on a cloud
What were Monk Genshin’s predictions about salvation, and what effect did this have?
The digression and pollution of the Darma after the life of the Buddha meant that it is now impossible for followers to ACHIEVE TRUE enlightenment/ awakening. This meant that Pureland Buddhism became more popular, it didnt promise enlightenment but rather a paradise where one could wait and achieve their enlightenment with the help of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
What is “The welcoming decent”
When a practicer of Pureland Buddhism dies, they are welcomed into the arms of the Amida Buddha with love and great joy, then he flies with them on a cloud to paradise. As written by pureland monk Genshin- his descriptions inspiring many artworks.
What was the Phoenix Hall?
Built in Uji 1053, a year after the announcement that we are in the Age of Degeneration, by the Yorimichi family. Specifically, Fujiwara no Yorimichi who was turning 100 that year and wanted to increase his karmic merit by creating a replica of paradise.
Called Phoenix Hall as it symbolises rebirth, and so has a pheonix statue. Containting a famous statue of the Amida Buddha, his head crafted with perfect proportion by sculptor Jocho. Equally tall and wide, the Budddha’s head is in perfect cosmological balance and actually this lead to a stylistic change iin the way Buddha’s were crafted.
