The priest Hotei-son, who is known in Japan as one of the seven deities of good luck, is considered to be an incarnation of Miroku in China; he is enshrined and depicted as a relaxed figure with a smile and a fat stomach, as Miroku Nyorai appeared in this world at the front of the Buddhist hall. 日本では七福神の一人として知られる布袋尊和尚は、中国では、弥勒の化身とされ、下生した弥勒如来として仏堂の正面にその破顔と太鼓腹で膝を崩した風姿のまま祀られている。 |