Gigeiten

A Buddhist deity. A celestial maiden born from the hair of King Mahāsura (Daijizaiten), she is the goddess of performing arts. She has a beautiful face, with her left hand offering a heavenly flower upwards and her right hand holding the hem of her skirt downwards. In esoteric Buddhism, this celestial maiden is the principal deity and a ritual (Gigei Tennyo-ho) is performed to her, which is believed to bring various arts and good fortune, and many people engaged in performing arts have prayed to her since ancient times. Akishino-dera Temple in Nara is famous for its Gigei Tennyo statue, which has a dry lacquer head from the Tenpyo period and a painted wooden body made by Unkei from the Kamakura period.

[Fujii Noriaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仏教の神。摩醯首羅(まけいしゅら)天王（大自在天(だいじざいてん)）の髪際から化生(けしょう)した天女で、芸能をつかさどる女神。その形像は、顔容端正で、左手は上に向けて天華(てんげ)を捧(ささ)げ、右手は下に向けて裳裾(もすそ)を持つ。密教ではこの天女を本尊として修法（伎芸天女法）を行い、これによって種々の伎芸や福徳が得られるとして、古来伎芸に従事する人たちが多く祈った。奈良の秋篠寺(あきしのでら)には、天平時代の乾漆の頭部に、鎌倉時代の運慶(うんけい)の手になる木造彩色の胴部をもつ伎芸天女像があり、名高い。

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