On the Formation of Shinto Icons
Kadoya Atsushi f"3J
1. The State of the Problem
Medieval Shinto writings (shintôsho ffî?ËW) are frequently accompanied by enigmatic images. Some of them portray what appear to be Shinto deities, while others seem to reveal certain kinds of symbols. In the former group, many of these images resemble bodhisattvas and heavenly beings. In the latter group, we often find geometric figures or tools similar to esoteric Buddhist ritual implements. There are, however, few concrete explanations about what these images represent, and few examples in which the relationship between the picture and the text is
Cahiers d'Extrême-Asie 16 (2006-2007) : 151-182
