Published On:Monday 20 October 2014
Posted by Celebrate Life Style information Blog
PHOTO: Golden 'bodhisattvas' ceremoniously lead departed souls to Buddhist paradise
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| Twenty-five people dressed as “bodhisattvas” symbolically lead the dying to the Buddhist paradise during the Nijugo Bosatsu Onerikuyo ceremony at Kyoto’s Sokujoin temple on Oct. 19. (Noboru Tomura) |
Dozens of actors dressed as “bodhisattvas” (Buddhist deities) participated in a traditional Buddhist ceremony on Oct. 19 at the Sokujoin temple, symbolically leading the dying to paradise.
The Nijugo Bosatsu Onerikuyo ceremony, which was held at the branch temple belonging to the famous Sennyuji temple, dates to the late Heian Period (794-1185).
The religious rite depicts Amitabha and 25 bodhisattvas aboard a cloud leading departed souls to the Buddhist paradise. The actors wore golden masks and ceremonial clothing, while carrying musical instruments and tools, as they slowly marched across a 50-meter bridge linking the compound’s main building, representing paradise, with its Jizodo building, representing this world.
At the main building, the Kannon and Seishi bodhisattvas performed the Gokurakujodo no Mai (Dance of the paradise).
Similar events are held at about 40 temples across Japan, including the Taimadera temple in Nara Prefecture. -Ajw.Asahi.
The Nijugo Bosatsu Onerikuyo ceremony, which was held at the branch temple belonging to the famous Sennyuji temple, dates to the late Heian Period (794-1185).
The religious rite depicts Amitabha and 25 bodhisattvas aboard a cloud leading departed souls to the Buddhist paradise. The actors wore golden masks and ceremonial clothing, while carrying musical instruments and tools, as they slowly marched across a 50-meter bridge linking the compound’s main building, representing paradise, with its Jizodo building, representing this world.
At the main building, the Kannon and Seishi bodhisattvas performed the Gokurakujodo no Mai (Dance of the paradise).
Similar events are held at about 40 temples across Japan, including the Taimadera temple in Nara Prefecture. -Ajw.Asahi.
