#kaidanin

[crazyfox-archives]

A sculpted image of Kōmokuten (広目天), one of the Four Heavenly Kings (四天王) guarding the four cardinal directions of the cosmos whose particular weapons of choice are a scroll & writing brush

Clay statue with pigment dating to the 8th century enshrined at the Kaidan’in Ordination Hall (戒壇院) at Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara

[moryen]

Bishamonten (Guardian of the North), Kaidan-in, Todaiji temple

Nara, Japan 

clay, 165 cm

8th century

Bishamonten is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and is considered an important figure in Japanese Buddhism.

In Japan, Bishamonten (毘沙門天), or just Bishamon (毘沙門) is thought of as an armor-clad god of war or warriors and a punisher of evildoers. Bishamon is portrayed holding a spear in one hand and a small pagoda in the other hand, the latter symbolizing the divine treasure house, whose contents he both guards and gives away. In Japanese folklore, he is one of the Seven Lucky Gods.

Bishamon is also called Tamonten (多聞天 lit. "listening to many teachings") because he is seen as the guardian of the places where the Buddha preaches.

[crazyfox-archives]

A pamphlet from the Kaidan’in Ordination Hall (戒壇院) at Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara, established in 755 under the direction of the monk Jianzhen (鑒真 Ganjin), with the current structure dating to 1733

Acquired at the temple February 6, 1994

[crazyfox-archives]

A hanging scroll depicting the layout of the Kaidan’in Ordination Hall (戒壇院) at Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara as it was during the Edo period (1600-1868)

[crazyfox-archives]

An elaborate altar enshrining an image of Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva (千手観音菩薩) dating to the late Kamakura period (1185-1333) surrounded by the Four Heavenly Kings (四天王) and placed within an interior feretory painted with the bodhisattva’s posse of 28 guardian deities along with the gods of wind & thunder above, with Kannon’s heavenly pure land Fudaraku Island (補陀洛) as a backdrop at the Senjudō Hall (千手堂) of the Kaidan’in Ordination Center (戒壇院) at Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara

Image from a booklet acquired at the temple on February 6, 1994, page 37

[crazyfox-archives]

Fudaraku Island (補陀洛), the heavenly pure land of Kannon Bodhisattva (観音菩薩)

Backdrop to an altar enshrining the bodhisattva at the Senjudō Hall (千手堂) of the Kaidan’in Ordination Center (戒壇院) at Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara

Image from a booklet acquired at the temple on February 6, 1994, page 37

[crazyfox-archives]

Ticket stub for Kaidan’in Temple (戒壇院), a sub-temple of Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara

(Acquired February 1994)

[masahi-d]

At the event of Dazaifu “koto no Hikari”, Kaidanin light Up. 福岡県太宰府市・太宰府「古都の光」にて戒壇院本堂・山門ライトアップと灯籠。 #dazaifu #kotonohikari #fukuoka #kaidanin #lightup #buddhism #event #temple #japan #photo #nightview #lantern #太宰府 #古都の光 #古都の光2018 #戒壇院 #ライトアップ #仏教 #寺 #寺院 #臨済宗 #天下三戒壇 #ランタン #灯篭 #灯籠 #灯明 #写真 #福岡 #日本 (戒壇院) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoJvLb6Aysw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wgzhtko2ksxp