Front Buddha - Front Buddha

Japanese: 前立仏 - まえだちぶつ

Also known as mae-dachi, these Buddhist statues are placed in front of the altar of a Buddha statue (hibutsu) that is not normally open to the public, allowing worshippers to get a glimpse of its sanctity. They are mainly found in esoteric Buddhist temples, and the mae-dachi Buddha of the Amida Triad, the principal image of Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, which is an absolutely secret Buddha, has been designated an Important Cultural Property. The principal image of Kanshinji Temple in Kawachinagano City, Osaka Prefecture, the Nyoirin Kannon statue (national treasure), is a masterpiece of early Heian sculpture, and the mae-dachi Nyoirin Kannon statue, although small, is known as an excellent work of art from the late Heian period. [Mitsumori Masashi]

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

お前立ちともいい，平常公開されない仏像(秘仏)の厨子（ずし）の前に身代りとして安置され，礼拝者にその尊容をしのばせる仏像である。主として密教寺院において多く見られ，絶対の秘仏である長野善光寺の本尊阿弥陀三尊像の前立仏は重要文化財となっている。大阪府河内長野市観心寺の本尊如意輪観音像(国宝)は平安初期彫刻の代表作であるが，前立ちの如意輪観音像も小像ながら平安後期の優作で知られる。【光森正士】

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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