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Images, statues of the

Characteristics of the Buddha
= 仏像
Buddha Bodies and （butsuzō, foxiang）
Images 1. Representations and
Japanese Religions A Original Indian term:
Images in Buddhism Buddha-bimba
Instructor Takahiko Kameyama Characteristics of the Buddha Bodies and Images: Japanese
Religions A
Bimba = image
（statue, image）

Images, statues of the Buddha
= 仏像 （butsuzō, foxiang）
像 xiang ＝ pratimā （ reflection in a mirror,
mirror image）
Production of the images and statues of the
Buddha
⇒ Not original traditional Buddhist culture
Later invention in North India or Central Asia
Traditional Buddhist view Before the “invention” and dissemination of
Twofold attitude concerning the religious the Buddha images
images, representations of the Buddha
Worship of the materials symbolizing the
Point Buddha
1. Both denial and affirmation of the belief in A bodhi tree, Buddha’s seat,
a Buddha Image in Buddhist tradition
2. Doctrinal and theoretical background of footprints, dharma wheel,
Buddha Images (Icon)
stupa (towers), Buddha’s relics
Manifold developmental history. etc…

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A “tower” (stūpa)

A reliquary within Buddhist context: a

container of the cremated remains of the
Buddha (śarīra).
2. Emergence of the Śarīra
“Tower” of the Buddha Japanese
Characteristics of the Buddha Bodies and Images: Japanese pronunciation
Religions A
⇒ shari 舎利

Stūpa

Śarīra Story of the funeral of the Buddha

When the Buddha passed away, his body was Main subject: The remains of the Buddha
cremated. Śarīra is the cremated remains of
his body which include bones, teeth, hair and
Struggle for distribution of the remains
so forth.

Cremated remains and their container, The Buddha passed away at the age of 80
“tower” in Kushinagar. The clan who presided
over this place held the Buddha’s funeral
⇒ Main object of worship and cremated his body

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Story of the funeral of the Buddha
Seven eminent clans in India which had
strong relationship with the Buddha
strongly requested the distribution of the
cremated remains of the Buddha among
them.
However, the clan in Kushinagar rejected
that request. The rejection caused some
struggles.
Significance of a Tower
Within the ornament of a tower such as
handrail, there are multiple artworks such as
the sculptures of the Buddha’s life story.
In the artworks, there are no clear
representations of the Buddha himself.
(symbolical representations)
Multiple towers constructed soon after the
Buddha’s death
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Dissemination of the Remains
Significance of a Tower
A Brahman teacher attempted to arbitrate
between the clans.
Before the emergence of the Buddha statues,
such “tower” (stūpa), main object of worship.
They finally determined that the cremated
remains were distributed equally among eight
clans.
A tower and the Buddha’s cremated remains
have been called the dharma-kaya (dharma
The clans who received the remains
body).
constructed “towers” in their lands, placed
the remains within them, and worshiped both
Eternal body of the Buddha
towers and remains.
A “Tower” in Asian Regions
Transmission of Buddhism
and spread of the culture
of a “tower” beyond India
Construction of a “tower”
in Southeast, Central, and
East Asia, Dissemination
of the remains of the
East Asian style
Buddha (true? Copy?)
towers
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3. Characteristics of the
Buddha Statues①
Characteristics of the Buddha Bodies and Images: Japanese
Religions A
Symbolical value of the Buddha statues and its
characteristics
The characteristics of Buddha
statues: two aspects
1. “Outer” characteristics
their physical appearance
2. “Inner” characteristics
their inner contents
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Invention of the Buddha Statues
Invention of the Buddha Statues
Background: strong desire to meet the
New stage of “visualizing” the Buddha based Buddha, the most important teacher and
on it influential savior
It is assumed that the statues of the Buddha
(butsuzō 仏像) were invented based on the
Method of sculpting the statues of the
Buddha
culture of worshiping the material objects in
North India and Central Asia. Strong influence from the culture of West and
Central Asia and Greek
Two Aspects of the Characteristics Two Aspects of the Characteristics
1. “Outer” Characteristics 2. “Inner” characteristics
They are diverse “contents” of the Buddha
三十二相八十種好 statues.
Thirty-two major and eighty minor distinctive
bodily characteristics of superior existences
which include multiple Buddhas and
legendary kings.
Medicine Buddha of Physical Appearance of the Buddhist statues
Inbadō byōdōji
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Wonderful physical marks

Wonderful physical marks
These physical marks are…
Thirty-two major and eighty minor physical
marks which clearly represent the wonderful long tongue, webbed fingers, golden
glorified body, halo etc…
4. Characteristics of the power and virtue of the Buddha

Buddha Statues② These physical marks are…

Characteristics of the Buddha Bodies and Images: Japanese
Religions A
For example, the dharma wheel on the sole,
white curl hair on the forehead and so forth.

a concealed penis
Physical Marks of the Buddha Physical Marks of the Buddha
hair standing straight up
His feet are firmly planted on the earth He also had arms extending past the knees
one hair in each pore
and long slender fingers and slender limbs.
with perfect balance.
golden body
Webbed fingers and toes flexible limbs
The dharma wheels on the soles
light radiating from the
arm-span equal to the height of the body,
He had long legs; slender legs like those body
such that the circumference of the extremities
of an antelope is circular
delicate skin

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Hand posture 印相