Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-14
a BRONZE BUDDHA.
japanese Antique Image added 90
she Collection I'm the MuseuM.

The followers OF Buddha In washington may be
pleased 10 know that q new image OF the great
sage and teacher, whose nameis reverenced by a
third OF the human race, has been set up In the
National Museum. II Is a large bronze ngure from
Japan, and represents the Buddha as conceived
by the japanese whose Buddhism came 70 them
through Thibet, China, and Corea and was upon
reaching the shores OF Japan mixed up consider
ably with the native religion or mythology. This
broLze figure is priced as an antique, and accord
ing TO the plan on which the chronological exhibits
are arranged has its place in Institution like the
the National Museum as helping TO illustrate the
religious idea, or the manner In which the religious
ideas OF different peoples are expressed. The
ngure with Its pedestais 20 inches in hei yht The
figure Itself, which is represented In the cOnven-
tonal attitude sitting cross-legged, is 3sG inches
high ami 32k inches wide at the base The head Is
l3H Inches long, and the face 1o& Inches wide IL
was cast In fse. Japan, I'm f64s, In the Ioku-
gawa period, and was a part OF the collection OF
Mr. Edward Greey, from whom IL was purchased
for the Museum, The inscription on the figure and
the coLditlon OF the metal attest Its antiquity.
Since the downfall OF the ddiDa,o or the leudal
lords OF Japan, and the consolidation OF the EN-
temples have been scattered abroad, and this
them.
REsTFUL ATTITUDE.
The figure sits like tailor on his bench, with
hands placed In the lap so the back OF one rests
upon the palm OF the other, the tips OF the thumbs
meeting, just as II the Buddha was about TO twid-
die his thumbs. Passing over his bead like a rep
res ntatlon OF halo l. goko or circle made OF
WOOD. The inquire Is draped In "A flowing roue. 10
the folds OF which the japanese sculptor gave
much attention. Altogether the figure though In
an attitude dificult 10 invest with grace or dig
nifty, according 10 occidental ideas has itnpos-
ing effect, the sculptor having given II much dig
niIy VI bearing The Buddha is represented with
head inclined Onward; the eyes, which are sianted
In the Mongollan style, are closed, or nearly so;
the lectures are In repose, the face being calm
and unruffied, indicating the serenity OF mind and
spirit That ali Buddhists hope 10 attain. In the
center OF the forehead is little knob such is
IN other Japanese representations of Buddha,
while the ears are large or prolonged These long
ears are supposed u be due 10 the effect on
Buddhistlc legend OF the customs OF ancient peo-
pie among whom the re igion was fostered. people
VINO wore eai-pugs or Used artificial means OF dis
tortlng the ears IL the Identity OF the inquire were
not established Its whole attitude and expression
are such that II would require little Imagination
TO give II place In any pantheon as The god OF
rest.
TIE JAPANESE INSCRIPTION.
The back OF the figure is covered with engraved
japanese Inscriptions. The sentences contain
many purely doctrinal and metaphys ical words
and phrases OF Sanscrit or Pail origin that dr.
icuft TO render ia English. The story OF the i'm
lions, is as follows:
.'The great caster Yositane TsuIi whose title
was Tajma no kami Ason o: the Fugiwara clan,
who lived at the port OF Taslnouo, Seishu prov
fnce OF Isel. Made by Saboro-biyoye katSutane,
OF the Fugiwara clan, son OF the above. Yedo, In
the province or Bushu consecrated Literally eyes
openedO with respectful heart by the Reverend
kwanseikudatsu, OF the Society OF BenreD, 2lst
priest OF the temple OF SanyeDZan IN Zojo, ShiOa.
(The posthumous name OF whose father Is ku-
getsu Jogen, mother, Yen-ju Miyo su, and
brother, kaku-yo Jo-nen. THIS (bronze image
OF the) Buddha OF the Five VISIONS was re-
spectfully cast for Shichirouyemon, Tadanon
Takamine OF MatsuZlka, district OF Jidaka,
Seishu province OF lse) Whose Buddhistic name
Is Hoyogensai Shirishi, and whose wifes religious
name Is kayo-miyo-kl i-sRin-1o Who desire the
blessing future lie for he souls on their father.
mother and six (unnamed) relatives and for them
selves Respectfully offered 10 the temple OF
Joshozan Scan, In Yamada In the same province.
(Witten) for kev. Sei-yo Joken by the Rev. Shoyo,
OF the society OF Soren. All the world can share
the blessings OF Buddhism Respectfully offered
year OF period or keian october 80 164s, A Dr."
oTHER IMAGES OF BUDDHA.
In a case near which the image stands is a Chi
nese figure. received from the state Department
Its label states that IL is a gure OF Buddha, but
the ethnologist at the Museum said IL represents a
Chinese Buddhist priest. The ngure, which is
nearly ife-size is represented as seated on cbair
The Moving robes cover the whole body " the feet
The head which Is Enthusiastically Chinese, Is
tonsured. The face Is represented as cast-down,
the eyes being half-closed, as the priest were
gagged In deep intrOspectiOn. There Is another
bronze image OF Buddba from Japan Ia the
Museum similar TO that IRON the Greey collection,
only much smaller. 1he sculptor, too, has given
iust slightly drawn expression about the mouth,
a, though The sun was shining TOO strong in the
PHILOSOPHERS face, or indigestion had sllg hty dis
turbed ais serenity.