Information release permitted as of:
February 23, 17:00hrs Japan time
Kodaiji Zen Temple
Android Kannon Production Committee

To all members of the press:

February 23, 2019

Press Announcement
The Unveiling of and Delivery of a Buddhist Sermon byMindar - The Android Kannon (Buddha of Compassion)
The Android Kannon Production Committee, formed in September, 2017, by Kodaiji Zen Temple(Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward), hereby announces the successful completion of the android Kannon(Buddha of Compassion), named Mindar.
Various methods for representing images of the Buddha have been used to provide a foundation forpeople’s religious beliefs. Images in sculptural relief evolved into freestanding statuary, and aftercenturies have now evolved for the very first time into an android representation of Kannon, theBuddha of Compassion. It is also the first Kannon to actually deliver Buddhist sermons.
This android Kannon speaks to the modern person, expounding on the essence of the Heart Sutra,
the most universally familiar of all Buddhist scriptures. The quintessential meaning of the Buddha’steachings that have been compressed into the 262 Chinese characters that comprise the Heart Sutra
are unlocked and explained by Mindar in simple straightforward language to make the sutra moreaccessible to people in the world today.
◇ Press release outline
・Greeting・Installation description(General overview, production of the Kannon, commentary on the sutra, the installation
environment, translations (English and Chinese), music, creators of the android, creators of theprojection mapping)・Schedule for unveiling to the general public
・Questions and answers
・Closing remarks

Please contact public relations personnel for further details and inquiries:
Toshiko Hisasue or Yumi IsobeTel: (075) 561-9966
Fax: (075) 561-9966
Email: kodaiji-sp@kodaiji.com

Press document 1
Android Kannon - Mindar◆General description of the android Kannon - Mindar
After the death of the Buddha, his teachings were gradually spread by his disciples and otherbelievers. No depictions of the historical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) or other Buddhas werecreated until they began to appear in sculptural relief on the walls and architectural surroundings ofstupas (commemorative monuments) and other Buddhist structures. It is generally accepted that
freestanding sculptural representations of the Buddha appeared approximately five hundred years
after his death, followed by a diverse evolution of Buddhist statuary.
Until then, Buddhism had been spread only through the transmission of Buddhist teachings. The
advent of Buddhist statuary, however, allowed it to become more comprehensible and gain broader
appeal. It is believed that this, combined with the fact that worshippers eventually looked to theseimages for the fulfillment of such personal wishes as for healing, entry into the Buddhist Pure Land,national peace, protection against evil spirits, and an overall comfortable life, is what led to theexplosion in popularity that Buddhism would experience.
Two thousand years then passed without much fundamental change in Buddhist statuary taking
place. Until now, that is, with our decision to create a new kind of Buddhist statue – one that canmove and talk.
Kannon is a savior figure that offers spiritual relief, a Buddha of compassion that heeds our prayers
and helps facilitate their fulfillment. This Buddha assumes many forms, and it is as an android that
we sought a modern day expression of this Buddha – an android Kannon named Mindar.
We want this android Kannon to spread the teaching of how Siddhartha Gautama transcended thelife-cycle sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death, and to provide a sense of tranquility topeople from the many anxieties they experience in modern-day life.
It was the participation of many expert professionals in the production committee of this projectthat allowed such a superlative Buddhist image to be realized. Two thousand years have passed
since the appearance of the first Buddhist statuary, culminating now in the first image of Buddha tomove and talk. The sermon it delivers is an easy to understand explanation of the essence of theHeart Sutra that has been tailored for people of today.
Understanding of the sermon is further facilitated by specially designed projection mapping images
that are controlled by computer to move in synch with Mindar. The sermon is given in Japanese andsubtitles appear in English and Chinese.
This android Kannon was created from a desire to provide people throughout the world with a senseof peace and tranquility and to transmit the heart of Buddhist wisdom.

◆Joint research by Osaka University and Kodaiji Temple
Plans exist for Osaka University and Kodaiji Temple to jointly conduct research using the android
Kannon, Mindar.
The goal of this research is to further develop the system by confirming the principle that the dialog
between the 2-dimensional humans appearing in the projection mapping and the android, with its
machinery exposed, serves to enhance the presence of both, and to apply this to exploring means ofexpression for imbuing the android with an even greater sense of presence.
Kodaiji Temple will provide Osaka University with the environment for conducting such
experiments combining projection mapping with the android.
Osaka University will research the principle that an enhanced sense of presence is achieved in boththe humans appearing in the projection mapping and the android.
(Osaka University is not involved in determining the content of the sermon.)■Installation Environment
Kyoka Hall size
85 ㎥
Equipment
2 4500-lumen prime-lens projectors on the ceiling
8 3300-lumen prime-lens projectors on the 4 walls
Replay environment
Video footage size: 4K multi-display
Audio
5-channel output (Ceiling 4-ch; Kannon 1-ch)■Mindar KannonDimensions
Body
Head, hands
Movement■SermonHeight: 1,950 mm Width: 900 mm Depth: 900 mm
Aluminum, otherSilicon (A-Lab original)
Air hydraulics

Time: Approximately 25 minutes
Subtitles: English and Chinese in the projection mapping◆Composition of the Android Kannon Production Committee
Android Kannon Production Committee*The diagram showing the composition of the committee has been omitted to conserve space.

Press document 2◆Special unveiling to the general public
Kyoka Hall at Kodaiji Zen Temple; seating only;
limited capacity
・Open toAdults and children 13 and above (The content is considered
too difficult for elementary school and preschool children)・DatesMarch 8 (Friday) to May 6 (Monday); total of 60 days
・TimesSeveral times per day*The room will be vacated after each session*No admittance once capacity has been reached*No entering or leaving the room once the session has begun
・Monetary Offerings are accepted and votive cards will be provided
offerings
・Android Kannon special home page: http://www.kodaiji.com/mindar/
・Format◆About Kodaiji Temple
Jubuzan Kodaiji (Rinzai School Kenninji Sect)
Kodaiji Temple is located north east of Yasaka Hokanji Temple at the foot of the Higashiyama
Ryozen Mountains in Kyoto. It is officially called Kodaiji-jushozenji Temple. The temple wasestablished in 1606 by Kita-no-Mandokoro (1548 – 1624) in memory of her late husband Toyotomi
Hideyoshi (1536 – 1598). Kita-no-Mandokoro was also known as Nene. She later became a priestessand assumed the name of Kodaiin Kogetsuni. In July 1624, Sanko Osho from Kenninji Temple waswelcomed as the principal monk and the temple was then named Kodaiji. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542 –1616) (the first Tokugawa shogun) financed the construction of the temple, resulting in its
magnificent appearance.
Many of the original structures were destroyed in fires. Those that remain are Kaisando (Founder’sHall), Otama-ya (Sanctuary), Kasatei (Teahouse), Shiguretei (Teahouse), Omotemon (Gate toSanctuary) and Kangetsudai (Moon Viewing Pavilion), and they are designated as important
cultural properties of Japan. The pond garden around Kaisando is said to have been designed by thegreat garden designer, Kobori Enshu, and is designated by the Japanese Government as a historicalsite and a place of scenic beauty.