Fudō Myō'ō and Bishamonten are accepted as a pair of attendants flanking various deities, especially in Tendai Temples. It has been pointed out that Fudō Myō'ō and Bishamonten have the role of getting rid of evil spirits at the time of death, or guiding prayers for the deceased to the Pure Land. This paper points out that the combination of Fudō Myō'ō and Bishamonten is related to Lotus Sutra doctrines through an analysis of the Biographies of People who Attained Birth in the Pure Land compiled in the Heian period. In addition, this paper focuses on Bronze Plaques Engraved with the Lotus Sutra and Bronze Case Excavated from Mt. Kubote, and Seated Amida Nyorai with Attendants, to argue that these works are also related to Lotus Sutra doctrines. Several examples of statues of Amida Nyorai as the central deity flanked by Fudō Myō'ō and Bishamonten as its attendants existed in the Eastern Tōgoku area during the early Kamakura period. By analyzing them this paper sheds light on their religious context.

特集 : 林温教授 退職記念号
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