Ioana Marinescu

Visual depictions of samsaric existence in Japanese Pure Land school

In this paper, I would like to introduce some notions regarding samsaric existence
in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism as gaki or jigoku and to present some types of visual depictions.
I will consider a different range of mediums, like paintings but also cinematography or manga, and
I will focus on Japanese Art from ancient through modern times.

In this study I intend to analyze the spreading and importance of images representing The
Parable of the Two Rivers and the White Path, written by Master Shan-tao, the third Patriarch of
our tradition. This image is one of the most known representation (there is a variant in Romania,
at Amidaji temple), and Rev. Jōshō often uses the parable of Shan-tao with an image to explain
the teaching.
I chose this case study by starting from the five activities reccomended by Shan-tao1 for birth in
the Pure Land - recitation of Amida's Name, chanting the Pure Land sutras, meditating on Amida
Buddha, worshiping images of Him and praising Him. While the most important thing in Jōdo
Shinshū is saying Amida's Name in faith, teaching Amida Dharma with the help of images is
very useful in providing an easy understanding. This is why its important to understand the
images from the Pure Land tradition and use them constantly in our daily practice.