1@Abbreviation
of bodai satta μρF½, a transliteration of the Sanskrit bodhisattva (Pari
bodhisatta). Lit. 'being (sattva) destined to attain enlightenment (bodhi).' Initially
used in the early Buddhist canon as a designation of *Shaka
ίή, the founding Buddha of the Buddhist faith, prior to his enlightenment; later
it assumed the more general meaning of any being seeking enlightenment. In Mahayana
Buddhism it became the term of designation for the ideal religious practitioner
who, although destined for Buddhahood, vows to postpone his own enlightenment
until he has helped others to reach this state. Ranked just below a Buddha, a
bodhisattva is of central importance in Mahayana Buddhism, which emphasizes the
possibility of all beings attaining Buddhahood. In theory anyone who aspires to
enlightenment and performs the requisite practices is regarded as a bodhisattva.
In popular belief, a bodhisattva is looked upon as a divine being with boundless
compassion who assists those in distress. Countless such bodhisattvas are mentioned
in the Mahayana sutras. In Japan, the most popular bodhisattvas include *Fugen
«, *Jizou n , *Kannon
ΟΉ, *Kokuuzou σ , *Miroku
νθΣ, *Monju Άκ, and *Seishi
¨. Because Shaka in the period prior to his enlightenment serves as the
prototype of the bodhisattva, a bodhisattva is usually represented as a layperson
(male or female) with the headwear, garments, and adornments characteristic of
a member of the nobility in ancient India. An exception is Jizou who assumes
the form of a monk. The upper half of the body of a bodhisattva is often exposed.
With the exception of *Batou Kannon
nͺΟΉ, the bodhisattva is generally endowed with a peaceful countenance. The bodhisattva
sometimes have many faces and arms (eg., *Juuichimen
Kannon \κΚΟΉ and *Senju
Kannon ηθΟΉ). In Buddhist iconography, the "bodhisattva division,"
bosatsubu μF, constitutes one of the main categories into which Buddhist
deities are classified ranking second, just after *nyorai
@.
2@Mask for bugaku, *bugakumen
yΚ, representing a bodhisattva (see 1 above) and used in the now extinct
performance called "Bosatsu." Certain 13c records indicate that the
dance had lost popularity at court by then. Most Bosatsu masks found
today are Buddhist processional masks, gyoudoumen sΉΚ, though some
at Tsurugaoka Hachimanguu ίͺͺ¦{ in Kanagawa prefecture, are labeled as belonging
to a set of bugaku masks. |
