Hannya bosatsu　般若菩薩

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

In full Hannya-haramitsu (or Hannya-haramitta) bosatsu 般若波羅蜜(般若波羅蜜多)菩薩. A bodhisattva *bosatsu 菩薩 personifying hannya-haramitsu (Sk:prajna-paramita) or the the process of the perfection of wisdom and, by extension, the sutra HANNYAGYOU 般若経 (Sk: Prajnaparamita sutra) of Mahayana Buddhism devoted to the exposition of this perfection of wisdom. These processes, usually six-fold, when performed perfectly, will allow one to cross from the shore of delusion and suffering to the shore of enlightenment. Since, therefore, this wisdom is considered to constitute the basis of enlightenment, Hannya bosatsu is also known as Butsumo 仏母 or mother of the Buddhas. For this reason, and also because in Sanskrit both prajna and pramita are feminine nouns, Hannya bosatsu is generally depicted in female form. Her worship was very popular in Indian Buddhism, and the texts describe a variety of forms, but a feature common to most forms is that she holds a volume of scriptures representing the HANNYAGYOU. In Japan she is sometimes invoked instead of *Shaka 釈迦 during the daihannya-e 大般若会, a service dedicated to the ritual reading of the 600-fascicle translation of the HANNYAGYOU by Xuanzang (Jp: Genjou 玄奘 ; 600/602-664). Where works are related to this ritual she is depicted either alone or surrounded by the Sixteen Protectors of Shaka *juuroku zenjin 十六善神 believed to protect those who recite the HANNYAGYOU. In Esoteric Buddhism mikkyou 密教 Hannya bosatsu appears in the Womb World Mandala *Taizoukai mandara 胎蔵界曼荼羅　as the central figure in the Jimyouin 持明院 (with six arms and clad in armour) and as a personification of one of the 'ten perfections' in the Kokuuzouin 虚空蔵院 (with two arms). There is also a mandala known as Hannya bosatsu mandara 般若菩薩曼荼羅 centred on Hannya bosatsu and variously described in different texts.

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