Buddhism; Folklore -- Japan; Japan -- Social life and customs
An outline of the footprints as engraved on one of the Japanese
pedestals[3] should have some interest even for persons familiar with
Indian sculptures of the S’rîpâda. The double-page drawing,
accompanying this paper, and showing both footprints, has been made
after the tracing at Dentsu-In, where the footprints have the full
legendary dimension, It will be observed that there are only seven
emblems: these are called in Japan the _Shichi-Sō_, or “Seven
Appearances.” I got some information about them from the
_Shō-Ekō-Hō-Kwan_,—a book used by the Jodo sect. This book also
contains rough woodcuts of the footprints; and one of them I reproduce
here for the purpose of calling attention to the curious form of the
emblems upon the toes. They are said to be modifications of the
_manji_, or svastikâ, but I doubt it. In the
_Butsu-soku-séki_-tracings, the corresponding figures suggest the
“flower-like design” mentioned in the tradition of the Maghada stone;
while the symbols in the book-print suggest fire. Indeed their outline
so much resembles the conventional flamelet-design of Buddhist
decoration, that I cannot help thinking them originally intended to
indicate the traditional luminosity of the footprints. Moreover, there
is a text in the book called _Hō-Kai-Shidai_ that lends support to this
supposition:—“The sole of the foot of the Buddha is flat,—like the base
of a toilet-stand…. Upon it are lines forming the appearance of a wheel
of a thousand spokes…. The toes are slender, round, long, straight,
graceful, _and somewhat luminous_.”
[3] A monument at Nara exhibits the _S’rîpâda_ in a form differing
considerably from the design upon the Tōkyō pedestals.
[Illustration: Left: S’rîpâda showing the svastikâ (From the
Bukkyō-Hyakkwa-Zensho)
Right: (From the Shō-Ekō-Hō-Kwan)]
The explanation of the Seven Appearances which is given by the
_Shō-Ekō-Hō-Kwan_ cannot be called satisfactory; but it is not without
interest in relation to Japanese popular Buddhism. The emblems are
considered in the following order:—
I.—_The Svastikâ_. The figure upon each toe is said to be a
modification of the _manji_;[4] and although I doubt whether this is
always the case, I have observed that on some of the large kakémono
representing the footprints, the emblem really _is_ the svastikâ,—not a
flamelet nor a flower-shape.[5] The Japanese commentator explains the
svastikâ as a symbol of “everlasting bliss.”
[4] Lit.: “The thousand-character” sign.
[5] On some monuments and drawings there is a sort of disk made by a
single line in spiral, on each toe,—together with the image of a small
wheel.
II.—_The Fish_ (_Gyo_). The fish signifies freedom from all restraints.
As in the water a fish moves easily in any direction, so in the
Buddha-state the fully-emancipated knows no restraints or obstructions.
III.—_The Diamond-Mace_ (Jap. _Kongō-sho;_—Sansc. “Vadjra”). Explained
as signifying the divine force that “strikes and breaks all the lusts
(_bonnō_) of the world.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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