仏像でナイト – it’s got be Buddha Statue Night

I joined a workshop of Kyoouji(Kyo-o-temple) near my place 2 Thursdays ago. 

At the periodic workshops "night of Buddha Statue", we will learn about Buddha Statues from the chief priest of that temple. 

Some new generations set and made a trend several years ago to enjoy statues of Buddha & other Buddhist saints such as Kannon and Fudo as adorable characters or fine arts.

Actually, the first person who found the art value of the Buddha statues in Japan was Ernest Fenollosa from US and tried to save them during the anti-Buddhist movement in the early Meiji period that led to the destruction of Buddhist temples and images. He loved Japanese all sorts of arts so much and became a curator of the department of Oriental Art at Boston Museum after he returned to Boston in 1890.

The chief priest thinks we should appreciate them with correct knowledge of religious and historical backgrounds and then we can have spiritual dialogues without words when we confront them at the temples.  He said how you look a face of Buddha Statue is the mirror reflecting your feeling.  When you think his face is gentle, you have tender mind.  When you look his face is severe, you might have something inside to be accused by him. 

It was interesting workshop and I will try to join the next sessions.

先々週の木曜日は、近所の経王寺でのワークショップ「仏像でナイト」に参加。

お寺のご住職さまから仏像について教わる連続したワークショップなのだ。

随分前からのトレンドとして、仏さまや観音さま、不動さまの像を芸術品やキャラとして

愛する人たちが出てきているのだけど

実際、日本の仏像の価値を最初に認めたのはフェノロサというアメリカ人で、

明治初期の廃仏毀釈の流れの中、守り抜こうとしたのは誰よりも日本美術を愛したこのひと。

1890年に帰国後ボストン美術館の東洋アート担当責任者に。

ご住職がおっしゃるには、歴史的・宗教的に正しい知識あってこそ、

本当に仏像に向き合うことができ、

仏さまと向き合って対話することが大切なのだと。

仏さまのお顔がどう見えるかが、自分の気持ちの鏡であるから

優しいお顔に見えるときは、自分も優しい気持ちの時。

怖くみえるときは、自分の中にやましい気持ちがある時だそう。

なかなか面白かったので、次回も参加してみよう♪