About practiceAbout the Buddhist Master Sculptor Unkei and Unkei Gangyo
Unkei (c. 1150 - 1223) was a master sculptor of Buddhist statuary who was active from the late Heian to Kamakura periods and also served as a monk at Kofukuji Temple in Nara.
Highly regarded for his ability to sculpt robust expressions in his statues that gave them bold presence, Unkei was commissioned by nobility of different regions to create his Buddhist statuary. Not only limited to superficial realism, the presence articulated in Unkei's Buddhist statues breathed life into the statues.
There is a shakyo (sutras copied onto a series of handscrolls) referred to as Unkei Gankei (designated as a National Treasure), in which Unkei became the ganshu (lit. ‘requesting party’) or commissioner. For this shakyo, Unkei copied the Lotus Sutra in cooperation of another Buddhist sculptor, Kaikei, and other members of the Kei school, which is a sculptural style that flourished in the Kamakura period. In 1180, the main buildings of the temples of Todaiji and Kofukuji had been burned down by warfare, and in so, as a form of votive prayer for the revival of the temples, Unkei copied eight scrolls of the Lotus Sutra on paper scrolls with center rods made of remnants of wood from the Todaiji Great Buddha Hall. It is recorded that the paper artisans had to purify themselves by ablution and a strict diet regimen of no meat or alcohol to prepare themselves for producing the paper, and sacred water was brought from Mount Hiei and Kiyomizu Temple to make the ink.
What are Hostu-gan Votive Wishes/Prayers?
Hotsu-gan are votive wishes/prayers made at the temple to entrust one’s wishes to a Buddha.
In the early 12th century, a samurai warrior, Wada Yoshimori, and his wife wished for their own eternal life as well as the eternal life of their deceased subordinates and opponents in a time of war, and so they commissioned the Buddhist master sculptor monk Unkei to create statues of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata), Fudo Myoho (Acalanātha), and Bishamonten (Vaishravana) at Jorakuji Temple.
In response to Wada’s request, Unkei produced the five statues. And in order to ensure that his wishes come true, Unkei placed Shingachirin(the heart of the statue) inside each of the statues and consecrated them with spirit to transform them into Buddhas.
In the period after Unkei, the custom of placing objects inside the statue became more widespread, and worshippers and Buddhist followers sometimes placed Buddha statuettes or their shakyo sutras inside the statues, in the hopes that the Buddhas would listen to their wishes.
Following in the footsteps of Unkei by copying the sutras or creating a Buddha statuette, you can entrust your own wishes to the Buddhas.
What is a Shingachirin ?
Shingachirin is a circle representing the full moon with a depiction of the lotus of the Pure Land Sect and a Sanskrit character representing the Buddha in the center. It is believed that the enlightened mind is a ‘halo around the moon’ or ‘moon halo’ of the state of enlightenment and purity, and that the Buddha also has a Moon Halo in his mind, and that when it is connected to the Moon Halo of one's own mind, one can become one with the Buddha.
The wooden Moon Halo plaques that were placed inside Unkei’s Buddha statues at Jorakuji Temple are inscribed with the date of their creation, the names giving credit to Unkei as the sculptor, and Wada Yoshimori and his wife as those offering the votive prayers they contain. Also written on the plaques are charms in the form of phrases from dharani text to enhance the power of the statues.
Unkei’s intent for placing these wooden plaques representing the Moon Halo in the center of the statues was so that the soul of the Buddha would be enshrined, making them more than mere statues—his wish was for them to become incarnations of the Buddhas themselves. In such a way, the Moon Halo becomes the link between the Buddha and oneself, as well as the soul that is enshrined in the Buddha itself.
A virtual hotsu-gan
A virtual hotsu-gan, or votive wish/prayer offering, is the act of delivering prayers or wishes to a Buddha statue within a virtual space.
The use of virtual reality enables participants to perform shakyo in a way that one otherwise would not be able to do physically, i.e. after writing wishes/prayers on a Moon Halo plaque, you will entrust it to a Buddha of your choice.
This is the first time in Japan that one can experience this new virtual hotsu-gan practice. Why not give it a try?
About the painting practice
In this practice, using special paints, you will paint a Buddha statuette carved by a local sculptor of Buddhist statuary, and practice devotional prayer through your creation. Relive the master sculptor Unkei’s experience of the creation of Buddha images. You can also entrust your wishes/prayers with the Buddha by placing your own Buddha statuette inside a virtual space.
Details of the Experience
Prior to the experience, you will take part in an incense ‘bathing’ ritual to purify yourself and engage in meditation to prepare your mind.
Here, you will create your own Buddha statuette by painting with special paints on a statuette carved by a local sculptor of Buddhist statuary. Participants will take home their creations.
You write your wishes or prayers on a piece of paper with the Moon Halo illustration. Once you have finished writing, you will entrust your prayer to a Buddha in a virtual space.
・In this experience, you will be writing using kanji (Chinese characters).
・We will provide you with an apron that we ask you to wear to protect your clothing from getting soiled by the ink.
・After the experience, you will be permitted for viewing the actual Buddha Statues sculptedby the great master Buddhist sculptor, Unkei.
・To protect the cultural properties, in the case of unfavorable weather conditions, viewing of the Buddha statues created by Unkei may not be permitted.