Tobatsu Bishamonten　兜跋毘沙門天

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

A manifestation of *Bishamonten 毘沙門天 said to have appeared in the Central Asian kingdom of Tou-po (Jp: Tobatsu 兜跋) during the Tang dynasty. Although sometimes linked to Tu-fan 吐蕃 (ancient Tibet), the identity of this kingdom remains unknown. Tobatsu Bishamonten was invoked in particular for the protection of capital cities and the repulsion of foreign invaders, and depictions of him have been found among the murals of Tun-huang (Jp: Tonkou 敦煌). In appearance he is characterized by his close-fitting armour, tight at the waist and reaching down below the knees. He wears a crown, holds a miniature pagoda *houtou 宝塔 in the palm of his right hand and a club or trident in his left. He stands on the upturned palms of the earth godness Jiten 地天, who is flanked by two demons. The oldest image of him in Japan is a wooden statue preserved at Touji 東寺, Kyoto, said to have been brought from Tang China and originally installed in the upper storey of Rajoumon 羅城門, the main entrance to Heiankyou 平安京, in order to protect this former capital of Japan. This statue provided the model for subsequent Japanese images of him which are found most often in Kyuushuu 九州 and Touhoku 東北 region, where his cult appears to have flourished during the Heian period because of his alleged efficacy in repulsing foreign invaders to which these areas were particularly susceptible. Examples include those at Kanzeonji 観世音寺 in Fukuoka prefecture, Eikouji 永興寺 in Ooita prefecture, and Narushima Bishamondou 成島毘沙門堂 in Iwate prefecture.

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