Page 35 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

A POR TR AIT OF JAP AN  33

Pilgrimages to Buddhist Glossary
sites are very popular.
Pilgrims, typically dressed Amida The
in white, walk from site to Buddha of
site, sometimes mak ing Infinite Light, as
epic journeys of many venerated by the
weeks’ duration, such as Pure Land sect.
Bosatsu Japanese
for Shikoku’s 88-Temple word for bodhi sattva, Amida
Pilgrimage (see pp232–3).
a figure that has
attained Enlightenment
and helps others.
Buddha Usually means the
historical Buddha, who was
The semi-enclosed area at the front born in India in 563 BC.
of the platform has a burner for incense
offerings. Beyond is a type of tabernacle Butsudan Altar in house.
containing a sacred object (honzon), Enlightenment An expansion
hidden from view. of mind as achieved by bosatsu.
Hondo Main hall of temple.
Honzon Principal object of
worship in main hall.
Jizo A popular bosatsu.
The Asuka Plain Juzu Buddhist rosary.
of Western Honshu Kaimyo Buddhist name
was the site of the awarded posthumously.
Kannon The goddess of mercy.
earliest Buddhist Sometimes has 1,000
worship in Japan arms (Senju Kannon).
(see p201). This Karesansui A rock
bronze image of and sand garden
the Buddha dates inspired by Zen
from 609. Buddhism and
Chinese land scape
painting.
Keisaku Stick used to
slap shoulders during
Kannon meditation.
Mahayana Major
branch of Buddhism, emphasizing
Tatami mats line the the importance of bosatsu.
floor of the hondo. The
Zen temple hondo is Practiced in Tibet, China, Korea,
characterized by its Japan, and other Asian countries.
relative stark ness and Myoo Deified king of light.
lack of ornamentation. Nio Temple gate guardians
(Brahma and Indra in India).
Nirvana Release from the
cycle of rebirth and suffering.
The Buddhist Temple in Japan Nyorai Epithet for the Buddha.
Pure Land Western Paradise
Buddhist sites, identifiable by the suffixes -ji and -dera, are of the Amida Buddha.
usually translated as “temples” (whereas Shinto sites are Sanmon Free-standing gate-
“shrines”). The temple complex includes a main hall (hondo), way to a temple complex.
shown here, maybe a pagoda, cemetery, buildings used by Satori Sudden Enlighten ment
monks, and often a small Shinto shrine too. The layout of a in Zen Buddhism.
Shingon Very popular
typical Zen Buddhist temple is shown on page 141.
Buddhist sect (see p279).
Takuhatsu The monks’
practice of begging.
Meditation is a Tembu Type of
cornerstone of Bud dhism: heavenly being.
clearing the mind of Tendai Major
cluttered thoughts is the Buddhist sect
road to Enlightenment. In (see p279).
zazen sitting medita tion, Zazen Sitting
photographed here in medita tion,
about 1950, a nun uses popular in Zen.
a keisaku stick to slap Zen Major school
meditators who seem to of Buddhism
be losing their alertness. (see p279). Tembu
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