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 ;*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@Masks 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. |
