Basic research on metal banners: their uses and features as tools in Esoteric Buddhism

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K00207
• 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: Kyushu National Museum (2022-2023); Tokyo National Museum (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: ITO SHINJI 独立行政法人国立文化財機構九州国立博物館, 学芸部企画課, 課長 (00443622)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 金属製幡 / 金銅幡 / 玉幡 / 灌頂道具

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Principal investigator conducted research on a group of metal banners of this type, particularly one called "Gyokuban," focusing on the fact that many of them are found among the implements used in the empowerment ceremonies of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism. As a result, Principal investigator found several previously unpublished examples. It was also noteworthy that the empowerment ceremonies implements, including these, were passed down to temples that are thought to have played a central role in Shingon Esoteric Buddhism in a certain region, and their transmission can be seen as physical evidence of the status of Shingon temples in the region. On the other hand, among the works called Gyokuban or that formally meet the definition, there are some that are not related to Shingon empowerment ceremonies, and it was assumed that their use was the original function of a banner, that is, to solemnly decorate.

Free Research Field

仏教工芸史　金工史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

金属製の幡は国宝や重要文化財、正倉院宝物などを除き注目されることが少なかった。同種の幡の中で特に「玉幡」と呼ばれる一群について、多くが真言密教の灌頂儀礼に用いられる道具類の中に見出されることに着目し調査研究を行った。その結果従来未発表の作例を複数例見出すことができた。またそれらを含む灌頂道具類が、ある地域において真言密教の中核的な役割を担っていたと思われる寺院に伝わる点も注目され、その伝来は地域における真言寺院の位相を示す物証ともいえる。一方で玉幡と称され、あるいは形式上その定義を満たす作例でも真言の灌頂に関係しないものもあり、その用途は幡の本来的な機能すなわち荘厳であると推測された。