The body of Buddha and Representation - Investigating the Foundation of Japanese Religious Art History

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K00168
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01060:History of arts-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Nagaoka Ryusaku 東北大学, 文学研究科, 教授 (70189108)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 東大寺大仏 / 清凉寺釈迦如来像 / 奝然 / 生身仏 / 五輪塔 / 法身舎利 / 梵網経 / 大相国寺

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to analyze how representations based on the Buddha-kaya theory were expressed in religious art. To this end, I conducted research and analysis in three areas: 1) temple complex and temple buildings, 2) Buddhist statues, 3) representations of gods. As a result, I was able to gain new insights into (a) the construction of the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple and the establishment of the Buddha-kaya theory, (b) sarira as dharmakaya, (c) the Buddha-kaya theory in the Shaka Nyorai statue at Seiryoji Temple, (d) temple buildings in Kyoto during the Heian period and the Buddha-kaya theory, (e) temple buildings in Kaifeng, Northern Song Dynasty, the Buddha-kaya theory, and the appearance of the statue of Vairocana, (f) stupas in the Liao Dynasty and the Buddha-kaya theory,(g) the role of Buddhist statues in receiving ordination - based on the perspective of Shaka as an incarnation of Vairocana, (h) the Buddha-kaya theory of the restored Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple.

Free Research Field

東洋日本美術史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来、東大寺大仏が生んだ世界観と平安以降の宗教世界との影響関係を問う観点はなく、盧舎那仏の化身の釈迦如来を受戒との関わりから評価する研究もない。清凉寺釈迦如来像を大仏と関係づける着眼はかつて塚本善隆氏が示したものの、その後取り上げられることはなく、栴檀釈迦瑞像が北宋開封において『梵網経』の仏身論に基づいていたことに着目した研究はない。空海以降の仏像の納入品が密教化することを法身の形象化と見る研究もない。近年日本彫刻史では、仏像を生身仏と関連付ける傾向が強いが、「仏身論」については十分な関心が払われていない。顕密融合の「仏身論」というという枠組みの提示は、従来の彫刻史を大きく見直す契機になる。