hokkai jouin　法界定印

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Lit. Dharma-realm meditation mudra. Hokkai 法界 is the Dharma-realm, (Sk: dharmadhatu), and jouin is an abbreviation of *zenjou-in 禅定印 (meditation mudra). According to Japanese Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou 密教, *Dainichi 大日 is the embodiment of the wisdom of the essence of the Dharma-realm hokkai taishouchi 法界体性智 (Sk: dharmadhatu svabhavajnana). A mudra or hand gesture formed by placing both hands in the lap, right on top of left (sometimes left on top of right), with the palms turned upwards and the thumbs touching each other. The meditation mudra was one of the most popular mudras in Buddhist iconography, and examples may be readily found in many types of Buddhist arts in Asia. But in Japan the usage of the hokkai jouin was restricted. Images of *Amida 阿弥陀 did not generally use this type of meditation mudra, but another one traditionally called *mida-no-jouin 弥陀定印. In Japan, the hokkai jouin was most frequently used as the mudra of Dainichi in the Womb-World Mandala *Taizoukai mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅. Zen priests preferred *Shaka 釈迦 (Sk: Sakyamuni) with the meditation mudra, in accordance with the custom of Zen Buddhism, the position of both hands was frequently reversed. This is the so-called Shaka in the style of the Zen sect. In addition, several Buddhas and bodhisattvas had their attributes sanmayagyou 三味耶形 placed on their palms forming this mudra. For instance *Miroku 弥勒 has a *gorintou 五輪塔 (stura of the five elements) in his hands forming the hokkai jouin, while *Yakushi 薬師 has a medicine pot resting on his palm. The above innovations derived from the theories of Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou, but because they came into vogue only after the Kamakura period, examples in important works are rather rare.

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