suribotoke　摺仏

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Also read shuubutsu. A Buddhist image printed in ink on paper or cloth, and often placed inside a Buddhist statue (see *zounai nounyuuhin 像内納入品). Suribotoke are thought to have developed from *inbutsu 印仏 (small multiple Buddhist prints), which were brought to Japan from the Asian continent in the 9c. A Sung Chinese print of Miroku bosatsuzou 弥勒菩薩像 dated 984 was discovered inside the Seiryouji 清凉寺 Shaka nyoraizou 釈迦如来像 in Kyoto. An early Japanese example, completed 1164, consists of images of the 28 followers of *Senju Kannon 千手観音 (see *nijuuhachi bushuu 二十八部衆), located inside the Sentai Senju Kannon 千体千手観音 in Rengeouin 蓮華王院 (Sanjuusangendou 三十三間堂), Kyoto. Offering prints to the temple as an act of devotion was popular among less wealthy lay believers, particularly during the Middle Ages (12-16c), since it was much cheaper than commissioning a statue or painting. Originally the two terms suribotoke and inbutsu were interchangeable, but gradually suribotoke were distinguished by size and technique. While inbutsu were small (usually 10cm or less), engraved on a seal and pressed many times onto paper to cover the whole sheet, suribotoke were larger, more detailed images, made by rubbing paper or cloth over a carved printing block. Themes were usually Buddha, *bosatsu 菩薩 or *ten 天 figures. From the Kamakura period life-size prints were made, such as the Juuichimen Kannonzou 十一面観音像, in Taimadera 当麻寺, Nara. In the Muromachi period suribotoke were painted in colour over the basic printed outline, and the subject-matter and formats also expanded to include *mandara 曼荼羅 and scrolls *emaki 絵巻. Many original printing blocks have been preserved, for example in Rinnouji 輪王寺, Tochigi prefecture.

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