Birth Buddha - Tanjobutsu

Abbreviation of "Born Buddha" (Shakabutsu), this statue shows the appearance of Shaka at the time of his birth. It is said that Shaka was born on the morning of April 8th in the 6th or 5th century BC, from under the armpit of his mother Maya, who had raised her right hand to pick a flower under the Muyu tree in Lumbini Garden. After taking seven steps, he pointed to the sky with his right hand and to the earth with his left hand and roared like a lion. This statue pointing to the sky and earth is generally called the Born Buddha. It is placed in the center of the Buddha plate as the principal image for the Buddha's Birthday Festival (Kanbutsue) and Bussho-e (Flower Festival) on April 8th every year, and sweet tea is poured on it, because the Dragon King made an offering of perfume at the time of his birth. Among the existing statues, the 8th century statues at Todaiji Temple, Zensui-ji Temple, and Goshin-ji Temple are famous. The statue at Daihoon-ji Temple in Kyoto is also a valuable example of a work from the Kamakura period. In addition, there is a statue (the only surviving one is a treasure donated to Horyuji Temple and kept at the Tokyo National Museum) that depicts the moment when Buddha is about to be born from Lady Maya's armpit, with his attending maids (who are also said to be dragon kings or heavenly beings praising Shakyamuni) and a tree of Asura.

[Akio Sato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

誕生釈迦仏(しゃかぶつ)の略で、釈迦降誕の姿を表した像。釈迦は紀元前6世紀ないし5世紀の4月8日の朝、ルンビニー園の無憂樹の下で花をとろうとして右手をあげた母マーヤー夫人のわきの下から生まれ、7歩あるいて右手で天を、左手で地をさして獅子吼(ししく)したといわれ、この天地をさす姿を像にしたのが、一般に誕生仏と称されるものである。毎年4月8日の灌仏会(かんぶつえ)・仏生会(ぶっしょうえ)（花祭り）の本尊として灌仏盤の中心に安置し甘茶を注ぐのは、誕生のとき竜王が香水(こうずい)を供養したとの故事による。現存の像では東大寺、善水寺、悟真寺(ごしんじ)など8世紀の像が有名。また京都大報恩寺の像は鎌倉時代の作例として貴重である。そのほか、マーヤー夫人のわきの下から生まれようとする瞬間を、付き従う侍女（釈迦を賛嘆する竜王、あるいは天人ともいう）や無憂樹とともに表した像（現存するものでは法隆寺献納宝物、東京国立博物館蔵）もある。

［佐藤昭夫］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例