Conceptual Summary
This traditional Japanese Buddhist painting (Butsuga) on aged, textured silk visually interprets Chapter Fifteen of the Lotus Sūtra, capturing the revelation of the "Bodhisattvas from underground" (Jiyū no bosatsu). At the upper right, Śākyamuni Buddha (Shaka Nyorai) sits on a majestic, multi-tiered lotus throne, gesturing with an expounding hand (Vitarka mudra) to declare that these countless beings are his own disciples from the remotest past. Seated reverently below him is Maitreya Bodhisattva (Miroku Bosatsu), who watches and receives this revelation with folded hands. The lower half of the composition is dominated by rugged, stylized earth fissures, out of which an endless host of haloed, prayerful Bodhisattvas gracefully emerge. Natural mineral pigments and gold-leaf details (kirikane) elevate this cosmic assembly, illustrating Nichiren’s teaching that the followers of the Lotus Sūtra are themselves these emergent Bodhisattvas, already present to teach the Dharma without waiting for an external savior.
Iconography & Character Identification
Item 1: Deities/Figures Featured:
Śākyamuni Buddha (Shaka Nyorai): The historical Buddha, seated at the upper right on a tiered lotus throne (rengeza), surrounded by an ornate halo (mandorla) and gesturing in a teaching pose (Vitarka mudra).
Maitreya Bodhisattva (Miroku Bosatsu): The future Buddha, shown in elaborate bodhisattva robes, jewelry, and a crown, seated lower and to the right of Śākyamuni, with hands joined in prayer (anjali mudra).
The Bodhisattvas from Underground (Jiyū no bosatsu): The vast multitude of nimbed (haloed) figures depicted rising and emerging from the natural fissures and splits in the earth below, clasping their hands and looking upward.
Item 2: Text Translations:
「双子座」 (Futago-za): The vertical handwritten Kanji signature in the bottom-right corner, which translates to "Gemini" (the zodiac sign/constellation).
「ジェミニ」 (Jemini): The red square seal (hanko) underneath the signature, which is the Katakana transliteration for "Gemini".
My words are true.
Believe me with all your hearts!
I have been teaching them
Since the remotest past.
The Buddha sings these verses to Maitreya Bodhisattva and others gathered to hear him teach in Chapter Fifteen of the Lotus Sūtra. Maitreya had never seen any of the other Bodhisattvas who sprang up from underground in this chapter, despite his memory of previous lives and other worlds. The Buddha explains that the beings who had just appeared are also his disciples and have come to spread this Wonderful Dharma in our world. Nichiren teaches that when he realized that he was an incarnation of Superior-Practice, the leader of the Bodhisattvas from underground, then all of us who follow Nichiren and continue to keep the Lotus Sūtra are the followers of Superior-Practice. We do not need to wait for someone to come to our world and lead us. The world does not need anyone other than those already here to teach the Dharma. We are the Bodhisattvas from underground.
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