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Pocket Kokuzo Bosatsu
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Guardian diety for those who were born in 1925, 1926, 1937, 1938, 1949,
1950, 1961, 1962, 1973, 1974, 1985, 1986, 1997, 1998.
Made of Indian Sandalwood.
All handmade. A pawlounia box and a carrying sack are included.
5.7 cm(H) x 4.8 cm(W) x 1.6 cm(D)
¥5980
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Kokuzo symbolizes the great Buddha wisdom that permeates the "vast
and boundless universe."
Believers pray to Kokuzo to grant them wisdom on their quest toward enlightenment.
People also pray to Kokuzo to improve their memory, technical skills, and
artistic talents, for Kokuzo is reverred not only as the deity of wisdom,
but as the protector of craftspeople and artisans.
Kokuzo is among the first deities to be represented in sculpture in Japan,
often in the form of statues imported to Japan from China in the 8th century
AD. (Although the Toji Temple in Kyoto houses a wonderful hard-dark-wood-half-life-size
set of five Kokuzo statues sitting on peacock, horse, and other animals;
the statues are dated from around 580 to 640 AD, and they retain all the
quality and feeling of bronze). Kokuzo statues can generally be identified
by looking at the position of the hands. In one hand, Kokuzo typically
holds the wish-granting jewel, or a lotus stem topped off with the holy
orb. In the other, Kokuzo is often holding a sharp sword, which represents
wisdom (cutting through ignorance), or else his hand is empty, with the
fingertips touching the ground. This mudra (hand position) is called bhumi-sparsha
(literally "earth-touching gesture"; Yoganin in Japanese). This
mudra is associated with the historical Buddha, who "calls the earth
to witness" during his battle with Mara (the Evil One) by touching
the earth. For a detailed review of hand gestures, please see the Mudra
page.
Kokuzo is one of the Thirteen Deities of the Shingon School (consisting
of Five Buddhas, seven Bodhisattvas, and Fudo Myoo). As a group, they represent
the chief deities of the Taizokai and Kongokai mandalas. See below links
for more on Taizokai and Shingon |
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