Easily confused Buddhist representations

The many different varieties of Buddhist art often show buddhas and bodhisattvas, as well as depictions of the historical Buddha, known as Gautama Buddha (or Siddhārtha Gautama, Śākyamuni, or Tathāgata).

Especially in Mahayana Buddhism, the main image in a temple or shrine often does not represent the historical Buddha, although the situation is complicated by Buddhist teachings such as trikaya beliefs by which buddhas, including the historical buddha, have different manifestations.

Depictions could be Gautama, or a bodhisattva, guardian, protector, disciple, or saint. Clues to a figure's identity are found in, for example, the physical characteristics of the Buddha, the objects the figure is holding, its ''mudra'' (hand gesture), and ''asana'' (sitting or standing position of the body).Sjoquist There may be an image in the figure's crown, or the figure could be holding a book, thunderbolt, vase, jewel, or lotus flower or stem.

Mandalas created for Japanese Shingon Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism can contain hundreds of different figures that may need interpretation. In his paper on the ''mudrās'' of bodhisattvas, Carl B. Becker, Kyoto University professor, describes the situation:

Dhyani Buddhas

Representations of the five Dhyani Buddhas, who are abstract aspects of Buddhahood rather than Buddhas or gods, have elaborate differences. Each must face in a different direction (north, south, east, west, or center), and, when painted, each is a different color (blue, yellow, red, green, or white). Each has a different ''mudrā'' and symbol; embodies a different aspect, type of evil, and cosmic element; has a different consort and spiritual son, as well as different animal vehicles (elephant, lion, peacock, harpys or garuda, or dragon).Sakya, p. 76.

Vairocana, the first Dhyani Buddha, embodying sovereignty and occupying the center, is a special case (in any case, he is distinct from Gautama and not normally confused with him). He was one of the Buddhas of Bamiyan blown up by the Taliban which China mourned and tried to replace with the world's tallest statue, named Spring Temple Buddha. Japanese Pure Land Buddhists think that Vairocana and the other Dhyani Buddhas are manifestations of Amitābha, but Japanese Shingon Buddhists think that Amitābha and the other Dhyani Buddhas are manifestations of Vairocana.

Akshobhya, the second Dhyani Buddha who embodies steadfastness and faces east, and Gautama are indistinguishable. Both can be seated in the ''Vajraparyanka'' (also known as ''Bhūmisparśa'') pose, with the right hand on the right knee, palm turned inwardly, and middle finger touching the ground. Amitābha (Japanese: Amida) is the most ancient Dhyani Buddha, embodying light and facing west, and is the central figure in Pure Land Buddhism. A statue of Amitābha, when seated, has a ''samadhi'' ''mudrā'' with both palms face up, on top of each other, in his lap.

File:Spring_Temple_Buddha_picturing_Vairocana,_in_Lushan_County,_Henan,_China.png, Spring Temple Buddha picturing Vairocana, in Lushan County, Henan, China, is the world's second tallest statue.
File:Gilt bronze Aksobhya Buddha from Tibet, 19th century, Honolulu Academy of Arts.JPG, Aksobhya, Tibet, 19th century, Honolulu Museum of Art
Image:Kamakura-buddha-2.jpg, The Great Statue of Buddha Amitabha in Kamakura, Japan

Bodhisattvas

In early Buddhist art, bodhisattvas commonly appeared in pairs flanking Gautama Buddha as protective figures, usually at a smaller scale. But sometimes they were the main figure in an image, and they developed their own iconography. After about 600, they became increasingly prominent, and in art for Vajrayana uses began to replace images of the historical Buddha.

Images of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, might be mistaken for Gautama. He is incarnated in the Dalai Lama, who is a tulku and the most revered Tibetan Buddhist monk.

Especially among Westerners, Budai (in Chinese, or Hotei in Japanese) is often confused with Gautama or is thought to have originated Buddhism. He is an incarnation of the bodhisattva and future Buddha, Maitreya, who will come to Earth 4,000 years after Gautama disappears. His name means "Cloth Sack" for the bag of sweets he carries, eats and gives to children. Admired for his happiness and contentment, he is known in Chinese as "The Laughing Buddha" and sometimes in English as "The Fat Buddha".

File:Maitreya carving in Feilai Feng Caves.jpg, Maitreya incarnated as Budai, The Laughing Buddha, in the Feilai Feng Caves, China
File:Korea-Busan-Beomeosa 6252-07 Gwaneumjeon.JPG, Avalokiteśvara on an altar in North Gyeongsang Province, Korea
File:Flickr - don macauley - The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.jpg, Avalokiteśvara, Nepal, 14th century

Gautama

Gautama might have representations in a hundred different attitudes or positions, of which four follow.

File:Buddha in Sarnath Museum (Dhammajak Mutra).jpg, Gautama, with his hands in the ''dharmachakra'' or teaching mudrā. Sarnath Museum, India
File:Gandhara Buddha (tnm).jpeg, Standing Buddha, 1st–2nd century CE, Tokyo National Museum
File:BuddhaShakyamuni-author-Yaska.png, Sitting Buddha in the ''Vajraparyanka'' (''Bhūmisparśa'') position, unknown provenance
File:Mahaparinirvana.jpg, alt=Gold colored statue of man reclining on his right side, Buddha attaining ''Parinirvana''. Statue excavated at the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

See also

*Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand

References

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Notes

External links

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{{Buddhism topics

Buddhist art
Buddhist iconography
Cultural depictions of Gautama Buddha
Bodhisattvas
Buddhas