NARRATIVE ICONOGRAPHY
(See illustrations below)

Narrative iconography explores how the deities interact with beings through illustrations. Once the virtues of a deity are understood, as from the iconography section, we can begin to recognize how the deities manifest their vows and inspire those who are on the Buddhist path, as well as those who are not.

I chose to create a foundation for the images using carved and laser-cut stamps. I then added pen and ink drawing to lean away from the precision that Adobe Illustrator and a laser cutter provide. Using stamps and pen and ink together combines the digital space with the reality space. When using stamps and relief printing for the iconography, I felt strongly about bringing human error to the sterility digital-made artwork embodies, such as an image made cleanly in Adobe Illustrator, and then printed. The digital and traditional combination represents the non-duality of ultimate reality. They are very different yet simultaneously the same.

While in the monastery, I learned different combinations and depictions of Shakyamuni Buddha, Taho Buddha, the four great bodhisattvas, and the Odaimoku to create a Gohonzon. Shown here are Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho Buddha beside an Odaimoku scroll floating in space; one such combination. This is an allegory of the Ceremony-in-the-Sky, or Ceremony-in-Space, from chapter eleven of the Lotus Sutra. The ceremony continues to chapter twenty-two when Taho Buddha departs in his treasure tower.

• There are eleven large stars for the beginning of the ceremony in the Lotus Sutra and twenty-two

 medium stars representing the conclusion.

• The smallest stars, as well as the sun and moon, represent limitless space.

• The repeated Buddha images in the upper left corner represent Shakyamuni Buddha’s innumerable emanations who travel to hear the teaching of the Lotus Sutra.

• The raindrops falling from the clouds are the rain of the Dharma, which comes to beings in different ways depending on their capacity.

• The three figures at the bottom left represent the shravakas, pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas (left-most)

• The three figures at the bottom left are sitting in front of a sutra desk with the Lotus Sutra in scrolls on top. This sutra unifies the three vehicles into the One Buddha Vehicle, or, one teaching, not three.

• The bell represents study and practice, two essential aspects to attain Buddhahood

• The group of figures at the bottom right represents the bodhisattvas from underground as found in the Lotus Sutra. They are faded at the lower half to show they are from the limitless past and will appear in the future (our time now) to teach the Lotus Sutra.

• The insects represent even the smallest sentient beings being able to receive the Dhamra and achieve liberation in this lifetime.

• Of the insects, the centipede is the messenger of Bishamonten, who stands for those of the Deva realm and the continuance of other realms.

• The spider at the bottom right represents patience and endurance; requisite on the Buddhist path.

A Gohonzon of Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho Buddha standing beside the Odaimoku. The two Buddhas are stamped on paper using an ink pad. I added my calligraphy of the Odaimoku with brush and ink in the overlapping whisker style of Nichiren Shu.

A Gohonzon of Peaceful Practice bodhisattva, Pure Practice bodhisattva, Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho Buddha, Supieor Practice bodhisattva, and Limitless Practice bodhisattva (as depicted left to right). I added my calligraphy of the Odaimoku with brush and ink in the overlapping whisker style of Nichiren Shu.

A deer stands beside a floating banner over a sutra desk. Hanging banners are found in many Buddhist temples and add to the splendor and celebration of the Dharma. Insects accompany the deer with a desire for peace provided by the Dharma, connecting to the truth that liberation is for every sentient being, no matter how seemingly insignificant.

The moon is seen inside the vision of a floating stupa. Simple stupas that accommodate lettering have been used to copy sutras word by word. Writing each word in a stupa means that each word is transcendent, and is a Buddha. The deity of the moon is Gatten, whose messengers are rabbits, as seen in the lower portion of the image.

Nitten is the deity of the Sun whose messenger is the crow. The crow of Nitten is traditionally shown to have three legs while this crow is two-legged. The two-legged crow is an encouragement for everyday people to align with the sun and her virtues of compassion and liberation from suffering. The group of figures emerging from the grass are the bodhisattvas from underground as found in the Lotus Sutra. They appear from the distant past to teach the Lotus Sutra in our time.

The figure is studying the Lotus Sutra alone at a sutra desk in a forest. For now, they are studying as pratyekabuddha. Each person experiences different realms throughout their lives and even daily, encouraged by what they learn and by those around them to advance toward peace and equanimity. Appearing in a nearby tree is Myoken Bodhisattva. He shows himself to guide the figure to their liberation.