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Moon-face Buddha: Moon Imagery and Symbolism in Dōgen’s Writings

KUBOVČÁKOVÁ, Zuzana

Basic information

Original name

Moon-face Buddha: Moon Imagery and Symbolism in Dōgen’s Writings

Authors

Edition

Annual Conference on Asian Studies, 2021

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Prezentace na konferencích

Field of Study

60206 Specific literatures

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords (in Czech)

Dógen; Pokladnice oka pravé dharmy; japonské básne waka; zen; mesiac

Keywords in English

Dogen; Treasury of the True Dharma Eye; Japanese waka poems; moon; symbolism; imagery; Zen

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 7/12/2021 14:39, Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D.

Abstract

V originále

In this paper, my aim is to address the imagery and symbolism behind expressions in the works of the founder of the Japanese Sōtō school, the Zen master Dōgen 道元 (1200—1253), with an emphasis on the image of the moon, tsuki 月. Dōgen often makes poetic references to the natural world and its symbolism, among his most favourite are, for instance, the four seasons, flowers, rain, wind, and breeze, mountains, streams, and valleys, as well as animals such as horses, donkeys, snakes, and dragons. I would like to illustrate Dōgen’s usage of a most common expression of the moon, an oft-portrayed Zen symbol for wisdom, insight, and enlightenment. Dōgen himself frequently reaches for [the image of] the moon in his writings, the Sino-Japanese Shōbōgenzō as well as the kanbun-style Eihei Kōroku, and even in his both waka and kanshi poems. Given the occurrence of the word tsuki in these various types of writings as doctrinal, philosophical, and poetic reference, I would like to investigate the numerous instances where Dōgen mentions this word, and thereby to illustrate the multidimensionalism of Dōgen’s use of language and imagery.