Hanging Buddha - Kakebodoke

A special type of statue representing a Mishotai (original Buddha) that was born from the syncretic belief of Shinto and Buddhism in the mid-Heian period. In ancient times, it was called Mishotai. The practice of donating mirrors to shrines is very old and there are many examples. This was also applied to temples, and mirror images with hair carvings of gods and Buddhas on the surface began in the Heian period.

This evolved into casting everything from the mirror panels to the statues out of copper or iron, or a circular metal sheet (or a square or other shape) placed over a wooden board with a cast statue attached to it. In rare cases, there are also wooden reliefs. They were hung on pillars or walls using metal fittings attached to the shoulders for worship. Many relics dating from the Kamakura period to the early modern period have been handed down, and some even come with a canopy, front desk, flower vase, etc. in addition to the statue.

[Akio Sato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安中期の神仏習合信仰から生まれた御正体(みしょうたい)（本地仏）などを表す特殊な形式の像。古くは御正体とよんだ。鏡を神社に奉納するのはごく古く、例も多い。これが寺院にも適用され、その表面に神仏像を毛彫りする鏡像(きょうぞう)が平安時代から始まっている。

　それが転化して、銅、鉄で鏡板から像まで鋳出したり、円形の金属の薄板（四角やその他の形もある）を木板にかぶせ、これに鋳出の像を取り付けるものができた。まれには木板浮彫りのものもある。肩につけた金具を利用して、柱や壁にかけて礼拝した。鎌倉時代から近世初頭にかけての遺品が多数伝えられており、像以外に天蓋(てんがい)、前机、華瓶(けびょう)などまで付したものもある。

［佐藤昭夫］

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