Thursday, May 7, 2009

The strong is not strong because his strength. Zen - 9

I am putting out same picture as yesterday's post. The picture is "Kan-Non". This is not directly related to Zen or Zen Discussion. But, I hoped to mention about "Kan-Non" as an important part of Buddhism.

Origin of Kan-Non was not known well. But Kan-Non was well worshipped in Vietnam, Hong-Kong, China, Japan, and many Asian Countries.

Sometimes, Kan-Non was compared to Mother Mary and she is Buddhism's symbol of unlimited mercy as Mother Mary is for Christianity. It is said that she has 1000 hands to help and give mercy to people. Some of statues in Japan shows her 1000 hands. In Edo Shogunate age when Christianity was prohibited by Shogun Government, Christian people build statue of Mother Mary which looks like Kan-Non to hide their religion. I think either Mother Mary or Kan-Non minds it.

Kan-Non was deeply related to Japanese Buddhism history as well. When Buddhism was first introduced to Japan in 552 AD, it took some time to deeply founded in Japanese culture. Several Emperors promoted it not so successfully. Japan did have its original religion, Shinto, that time.

Queen Ko-Myo (701 - 760) was from non-emperor family, devout believer of Buddhism. She promised to clean and wash 1000 people so that they could understand the mercy of Buddhism. An old woman was the last 1000th person the Queen must have cleaned. This woman was a leper and demanded that Queen should have clean her fester skin with Queens tongues and lips. Queen Ko-Myo without hesitation kissed this old lady and cleaned her skin as requested. Not a half done, this old woman showed her real herself to Queen Ko-Myo. This old woman was Kan-Non changed her appearance, tested Queen's faith. Kan-Non promised Queen Ko-Myo Buddhism will be the first religion in Japan with her effort.

Encouraged by Kan-Non, Queen Ko-Myo continued to evangelize Buddhism and Buddhism became first religion in Japan. Today in Japan, Buddhism lives with people and it is almost impossible to separate Buddhism from Japanese daily lives.

Related post:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_07.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_05.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_04.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_03.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_02.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/05/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his_30.html
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/04/strong-is-not-strong-because-his.html

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/main
http://vur.me/shawfunami/SF
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi


Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

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4 comments:

Marketing Unscrambled, Home edition said...

Shaw, thank you for telling us more about the believes that the people from Japan.Very interesting. Keep up the good work.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Shaw ..that's really interesting to see why Buddhism is so entwined and such an essential part in Japanes life ..

Thank you for showing us Queen Ko-Myo and also for Kan-Non (as the Mother Mary figures in Christianity) ..

Interesting ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters

Unknown said...

Hello Dan & Deanna,

Japan has a lot of attractive and interesting culture and history. I will keep posting about it in addition to business stuff.

Thank you for your comment.
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Unknown said...

Hi Hilary,

I would like to show some part of Buddhism to non-Buddist people so that they can touch a part of it instead of imagining it is an Asian mysterius religion.

Thank you for your comment.
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link