SHAKA MUNI

 EXECERPT FROM THIS BOOK: A HANDBOOK FOR TRAVELLERS IN JAPAN (INCLUDING FORMOSA), BY BASIL CHAMBERLAIN,F.R.G.S. AND W.B. MASON, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND LATE OF THE IMPERIAL  JAPANESE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. WITH THIRTY MAPS AND PLANS AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. NINTH EDITION, REVISED THROUGHOUT. LONDON. JOHN MURRAY, ALLEMARLE STREET. YOKOHAMA, SHANGHAI,- KELLY&WALSH, LIMITED-HONKONG, SINGAPORE.1913

SHAKA MUNI

IS

SHAKA MUNI- the Japanese pronunciation of The Prince- Sakya Muni . This is the name of the founder of Buddhism who was also called The Prince Gautama and is generally spoken of by Europeans as "The Great Buddha". It was though, that  it would be more correct to say "the Buddha", as there are many other inferior Buddhas innumerable.

In his youth, The Prince Gautama,- he was called Shitta Taishi (Sanskrit Siddhartha).

The birth of the Great Buddha is usually placed by the Chinese and Japanese calendars in the year of 1027 BC .But this date is being accepted by the European scholars  as the year of 653 BC.

The most accessible account of The Buddha's life and doctorine is that one, given by the  Professor Rhys Davids. In his little work, entitled Buddhism, and published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

The entombment of Buddha, with all the creation,- standing, and weeping around, is a favourite motive of the Japanese art. Such pictures are called Nehan-zō that is Representations of the Entry into Nirvana .The birth of Buddha (tanjō Shaka)is also often represented as - The Great Teacher then appearing as a naked infant,  with his right hand pointing up and his left hand down to indicate the power which he exercises over heaven and earth .

Here I want to point out Your attention to the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Our illustration gives the most usual form of his image.

 Though not unlike that of Amida,- it differs from the latter by the position of the hand, and the shape of the halo. The chief festivals of Shaka are on the 8th of April- his birthday and the 15th of February the anniversary of his death