Abstract

This image of Saint Ta-a Shinkyo is owned by the Koguji Temple of the Jishu Sect of Buddhism. It is totally different than other portraits from the Jishu Sect, including the portraits of St. Ippen . Most portraits from this sect are generally painted portraits of men. A ray of light from above shines on the deified Ta-a Shinko as he stands upon lotus flower and he transmits rays of light to two believers below him. This is based on the concept known as chishiki kimyo , a unique belief of the Jishu sect of giving absolute devotion of mind and body to the absolute view of knowledge . I consider the Shinkyo at the Koguji Temple is being used as agent of Amitabha. Up until now, the popular concept of chishiki kimyo in a portrait has been limited to creating the portrait and using it in worship. In this paper, I present that an objective description of chishiki kimyo is presented in the picture and this provides us with a deeper expression. This new interpretation can be considered a point of new development in the study of Jishu portraits as well its paintings