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Tōdai-ji Hachiman
The Tōdai-ji Hachiman ( Japanese:木造僧形八幡神坐像, Romaji: ''Mokuzō Sōgyō Hachimanjin Zazō'') is a syncretic Shinto-Buddhist sculpture of the kami Hachiman carved in 1201 by Buddhist sculptor Kaikei. Currently housed in the Hall of Hachiman (Hachiman-den) in Tōdai-ji, it is classified as a National Treasure of Japan since 19 February 1957 (upgraded from previous status as Important Cultural Property on 2 August 1901), and is the only syncretic piece by him. The sculpture is considered a prominent example of Buddhist sculpture in the early Kamakura period under the Kei school, and its creation was extensively documented from chronicles and diaries written during the 13th century. Background Up til the Meiji Restoration, syncretism was prominent between Shintoism and Buddhism, in the form of shinbutsu-shūgō, in which the history of Hachiman worship was closely involved with the construction of Tōdai-ji in 749. With sponsorship from Usa Jingū, Hachiman became ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kaikei
was a Japanese Busshi (sculptor of Buddha statue) of Kamakura period, known alongside Unkei. Because many busshi of the school have a name including ''kei'' (慶), his school is called ''Kei-ha'' (Kei school). Kaikei being also called , his style is called and is known to be intelligent, pictorial and delicate. Most of his works have a height of about three shaku, and there are many of his works in existence. Primary work * Boston Miroku (1189) - Earliest attributable work. *Amitabha Triad in Jōdo-ji in Ono (1195) - National Treasure of Japan. Most important work. Height: 24.6 ft *Hachiman in Tōdai-ji (1201) - National Treasure of Japan. * Burke Jizō (1203) - Metropolitan Museum of Art * Nio(Agyō) in Tōdai-ji (1203) - National Treasure of Japan. Joint production with Unkei and 13 assistant sculptors. *Mahamayuri in Kinpusen-ji (1200) - Important Cultural Property of Japan. *Maitreya in Sanbō-in (1192) - Important Cultural Property of Japan. *Vairocana in Ish ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Meiji Restoration
The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ruling emperors before the Meiji Restoration, the events restored practical power to, and consolidated the political system under, the Emperor of Japan. The Restoration led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure and spanned both the late Edo period (often called the Bakumatsu) and the beginning of the Meiji era, during which time Japan rapidly Industrialization, industrialised and adopted Western culture, Western ideas and production methods. The origins of the Restoration lay in economic and political difficulties faced by the Tokugawa shogunate. These problems were compounded by the encroachment of foreign powers in the region which challenged the Tokugawa policy of , specifically the arrival of the Pe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jingo-ji
is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto. It stands on Mount Takao to the northwest of the center of the city. The temple adheres to Shingon Buddhism. Its principal image is a statue of Bhaisajyaguru (''Yakushi Nyorai''), the Buddha of Healing or "Medicine Buddha". The temple was first established in the year 824, as a merger of two private temples founded earlier by Wake no Kiyomaro. They were the Jingan-ji (神願寺) in Kiyomaro's home province and the Takaosan-ji (高雄山寺). Treasures Jingo-ji holds sixteen National Treasures of Japan."Takaosan, Jingoji Buddhist Temple" (leaflet published by Jingo-ji) They include the ''honzon'' and other statues. Another treasure is a list written by Kūkai in 812 called the and displays some of Kukai's talent for calligraphy. This list contains people and deities in 812 who underwent the abhisheka at Takaosan-ji presided by Kūkai. The Buddhist Sutra "Bimashōkyō", translated by Guṇabhadra, was handed down at the temple. It is "on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emperor Toba
was the 74th Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 鳥羽天皇 (74)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name (his ''imina'') was Munehito''-shinnō'' (宗仁親王). He was the son of Emperor Horikawa. His mother was Empress Dowager Fujiwara no Ishi (藤原苡子) Toba had three Empresses, some consort ladies and 14 imperial sons and daughters.Brown, p. 321. * ''chūgū'' : Fujiwara no Tamako (藤原璋子) later Taikenmon’in (待賢門院), Fujiwara no Kinzane‘s daughter ** First Son: Imperial Prince Akihito (顕仁親王) later Emperor Sutoku ** First Daughter: Imperial Princess ''Yoshiko/Kishi'' (禧子内親王; 1122–1133) – Saiin at Kamo Shrine ** Second Son: Imperial Prince Michihito (通仁親王; 1124–1129) ** Third Son: Imperial Prince Kimihito (君仁親王; 1125–1143) ** Second D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kūkai
, born posthumously called , was a Japanese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and poet who founded the Vajrayana, esoteric Shingon Buddhism, Shingon school of Buddhism. He travelled to China, where he studied Tangmi (Chinese Vajrayana Buddhism) under the monk Huiguo. Upon returning to Japan, he founded Shingon—the Japanese branch of Vajrayana Buddhism. With the blessing of several Emperors of Japan, Emperors, Kūkai was able to preach Shingon teachings and found Shingon temples. Like other influential monks, Kūkai oversaw public works and constructions. Mount Kōya was chosen by him as a holy site, and he spent his later years there until his death in 835 C.E. Because of his importance in Japanese Buddhism, Kūkai is associated with many stories and legends. One such legend attribute the invention of the ''kana'' syllabary to Kūkai, with which the Japanese language is written to this day (in combination with ''kanji''), as well as the ''Iroha'' poem, which helped to standardise ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kamakura Shogunate
The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459. The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo after victory in the Genpei War and appointing himself as ''shōgun''. Yoritomo governed Japan as military dictator from the eastern city of Kamakura with the emperor of Japan and his Imperial Court in the official capital city of Heian-kyō (Kyoto) as figureheads. The Kamakura ''shōguns'' were members of the Minamoto clan until 1226, the Fujiwara clan until 1252, and the last six were minor princes of the imperial family.Nussbaum"Minamoto"at pp. 632–633. The Hōjō clan were the '' de facto'' rulers of Japan as '' shikken'' (regent) of the ''shōgun'' from 1203.Nussbaum"Fujiwara"at pp. 200–201. The Kamakura shogunate saw the Jōkyū War in 1221 and the Mongol invasions of Japan under Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281. The Kamaku ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after India, representing 17.4% of the world population. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and Borders of China, borders fourteen countries by land across an area of nearly , making it the list of countries and dependencies by area, third-largest country by land area. The country is divided into 33 Province-level divisions of China, province-level divisions: 22 provinces of China, provinces, 5 autonomous regions of China, autonomous regions, 4 direct-administered municipalities of China, municipalities, and 2 semi-autonomous special administrative regions. Beijing is the country's capital, while Shanghai is List of cities in China by population, its most populous city by urban area and largest financial center. Considered one of six ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Southern Song
The Song dynasty ( ) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, ending the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The Song frequently came into conflict with the contemporaneous Liao, Western Xia and Jin dynasties in northern China. After retreating to southern China following attacks by the Jin dynasty, the Song was eventually conquered by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The dynasty's history is divided into two periods: during the Northern Song (; 960–1127), the capital was in the northern city of Bianjing (now Kaifeng) and the dynasty controlled most of what is now East China. The Southern Song (; 1127–1279) comprise the period following the loss of control over the northern half of Song territory to the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty in the Jin–Song wars. At that time, the Song court retreated south o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chōgen (monk)
(1121-1206), also known as , was a Japanese people, Japanese Buddhism in Japan, Buddhist monk. From 1181 he devoted twenty-five years of his life to the endowment and rebuilding of Tōdai-ji after its Siege of Nara, destruction in war. Sources A contemporary record known as the ''Benevolent Deeds of Namu-Amidabutsu'' provides the fullest evidence for Chōgen's life and career. This may be supplemented by diaries such as the of Fujiwara no Kanezane; List of Japanese temple records, temple records; documents including ''Solicitation for Funds by Chōgen in Genkyū 2''; and Epigraphy, inscriptions including one on stone dating to 1202 from Kawachi Province recording his repair of irrigation channels first constructed by Gyōki, Gyōki Bosatsu. By the time of the Emakimono, illustrated ''Tōdaiji Daibutsu engi'' of the 1530s, which includes a scene of Chōgen at sea conveying logs for the great rebuilding, invocation of his memory could include a "mixture of fact and fable". Biogr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
