Myōken
Myōken (Sudṛṣṭi) | |
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Vajrayāna | |
Attributes | sword, tortoise, Big Dipper |
Religion portal |
Myōken (
Despite the alleged Sanskrit origin of his name and his
The cult of Myōken is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the 7th century by the
Origins
During the
The earliest source on Myōken is The Divine Spells of the Great
By the Tang period, esoteric texts and rituals centered on Myōken proliferated; a number of astral mandalas with Myōken as the primary divinity, drawing directly on the Tang texts, have been preserved in Japan. Ennin's diary of his travels in China in 838 suggests that the cult of Myōken was still flourishing there during the late Tang period.[7]
Spread to Japan
The cult of Myōken is thought to have been brought in Japan during the 7th century by immigrants (toraijin) from Goguryeo and Baekje, most notably Prince Imseong. During the reign of Emperor Tenji (661–672), the toraijin were resettled in the easternmost parts of the country; as a result, Myōken worship spread throughout the eastern provinces.[9]
By the
Myōken worship was particularly prevalent among clans based in eastern Japan (the modern
Veneration of Myōken as a god of war is believed to derive from the practice of worshiping the easternmost star of the Big Dipper,
During the late
Iconography
Depictions of Myōken have varied greatly over time. Aside from representations which conform to standard bodhisattva iconography, Myōken is also portrayed as a youth or as an armored, stern-faced figure holding a sword above his head. He can be shown standing or sitting atop a cloud, a dragon or a tortoise (the symbol of the north in Chinese cosmology). Artistic portrayals of Myōken, particularly those showing him with a sword, are thought to be influenced by depictions of the Taoist deity Xuanwu, who is also venerated as the god of the north.[9][20]
See also
- Astrotheology
- Big Dipper
- Black Tortoise
- Buddhism in Japan
- Chiba clan
- Chiba Shrine
- Dhruva
- Little Dipper
- Mount Myōken (Tajima)
- Tianhuang Emperor
- Xuanwu (god)
Notes
References
- ISBN 978-1-135-79739-3.
- ^ Faure, Bernard (2015). The Fluid Pantheon: Gods of Medieval Japan, Volume 1. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 59–60.
- ISBN 978-1136792601.
- ISBN 9780521223539.
- ISBN 9784054041875.
- ^ Faure, Bernard (2015). The Fluid Pantheon: Gods of Medieval Japan, Volume 1. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 71–80.
- ^ ISBN 978-9004184916.
- ISBN 978-0231537391.
- ^ a b c d e "妙見菩薩と妙見信仰". 梅松山円泉寺. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ISBN 978-1134431236.
- ISBN 9781351692021.
- ^ "千葉神社". 本地垂迹資料便覧 (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "千葉氏と北辰(妙見)信仰". Chiba City Official Website (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "妙見菩薩「開運大野妙見大菩薩」". 日蓮宗 法華道場 光胤山 本光寺 (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ISBN 978-4892870965.
- ^ 高橋俊隆. "北辰妙見信仰(北斗・二十八宿)". 日蓮宗 妙覚寺 (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ISBN 978-4423270127.
- ^ Sasaki, Kiyoshi. "Amenominakanushi no Kami in Late Tokugawa Period". Kokugakuin University. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ a b Mori, Mizue. "Amenominakanushi". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Kokugakuin University. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Schumacher, Mark. "Twenty-Eight Constellations 28 Moon Lodges, 28 Lunar Mansions". A to Z Photo Dictionary of Japanese Buddhist Statues and Shinto Art. Retrieved 29 September 2019.