GLOSSARY

Bishamonten
In some Buddhist traditions, chief of the four divine guardian kings of Buddhist temples. He protects the northern area of temple sites. He is traditionally depicted with a pagoda in his hand symbolizing his role as a guardian of Buddhist sanctuaries.

Bodhisattva (Japanese: Bosatsu)
Many Buddhist believe they are enlightened beings that have delayed their entrance into nirvana in order to assist all sentient beings towards the same goal. In the visual arts, they are most often depicted as radiant, princely figures. Some carry specific symbolic objects associated with their function in the Buddhist tradition. The most popular bodhisattvas in Pure Land Buddhism are Kannon, Monju, and Jizo.

Byobu
Freestanding folding screens, used as room dividers, typically painted in pairs, usually on either a paper or silk surface.

Emakimono
Illustrated narrative hand scrolls read from right to left; often featuring both text and painted images of Japanese classical literature, historical events, and legends; popular in the 12th through 14th century.

Fudo Myo-o
In Buddhist thought, the most important of the five Kings of Higher Knowledge. A benevolent deity, his terrifying expression and the noose and sword he holds in his hands are used to guard against evil.

Fusuma
Interior sliding panels in traditional Japanese buildings that separate rooms or serve as cupboard doors. They are used to decorate both palaces and Buddhist temples.

Jizo
In Pure Land Buddhism, compassionate bodhisattva usually shown dressed as a monk, with shaven head, carrying a staff and a wish-granting jewel. He is believed to assist women in childbirth, children, warriors, travelers, and beings in Hell.

Kakemono
Hanging scrolls with pictures or calligraphy or both in a vertical format, suspended from a wooden rod.

Kano School
The school of painting founded by Kano Masanobu (1434 - 1530), its greatest influence was during the Momoyama (1573 - 1615) and Edo (1615 - 1868) periods. Kano artists combined a Chinese academic style of ink painting with decorative elements and the use of bright colors derived from Japanese native painting (yamato-e).

Monju (Sanskrit: Manjusri)
Many Buddhists believe that this bodhisattva embodies the wisdom and insight of the Buddha. Monju is often depicted riding a lion and holding a sword and a sutra (a scroll of sacred text).

Nanga School
Literally, ˜Southern School"; also known as Bunjinga (~literati painting"), flourished during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Derived from the ideal of the Chinese scholar-artist, adopted aspects of Ming and Qing dynasty painting and modified them according to native Japanese taste. Unlike the Chinese literati painters, the practitioners of nanga were not themselves scholar-officials, but came from a variety of backgrounds.

Nirvana
Literally,"to be blown out." Liberation and release from samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth).

Pure Land Buddhism
Buddhist sect founded by Honen (1133 - 1212) based on the belief that one can achieve rebirth in the Western Paradise of Amida Buddha by reciting Amida's name right before death. It was a popular sect during the Heian (794 - 1185) and Kamakura (1185 - 1333) periods.

Rimpa School
This Edo-period school took its inspiration from classical literature and the Heian-period yamato-e painting tradition. Rimpa artists' paintings are elegant, often rich in color, and striking in their composition and reinterpretation of classical motifs. They worked in a variety of media, including lacquer and ceramic, for clients drawn from both the court and the wealthy merchant class.

Shinto
The indigenous religion of Japan, based on the customs and folklore of Japan's ancient agrarian culture. Shinto comprises narratives and practices centered around the belief in the presence of kami (divine entities that inhabit aspects of nature and control natural forces).

Tokonoma
Shallow alcove in a room, the floor of which is slightly elevated from the main space. The alcove serves as focal point for the display of artwork complemented by a flower arrangement and rotated with the seasons.

Yamato-e
(Literally, 'Japanese Painting') Painting style characterized by native subject matter, often taken from literature and themes associated with famous places or the four seasons. Stylistic features include the frequent use of flat planes of rich color and a number of codified pictorial devices.

Zen Buddhism
Buddhist sect that arose in China during the 6th century and achieved prominence in Japan during the late 11th century. Zen Buddhism stressed self-discipline through meditation. It is the most popular form of Buddhism practiced in the United States today.