This article was published in >

Journal of Nepal - Japan Studies, Vol. IV, No. 1, 2004,

Kathmandu: Sakai Lions Club and Imanishi Memorial Fellowship
Trust Nepal.

Buddhism and Nepal – Japan Academic Relations: A

Native Perspective

Prof. Dr. Shanker Thapa

drsthapa5721@yahoo.com

The relations between two countries at people's level are much concerned in
modern history. People to people contact between Nepal and Japan started in 1899 with
the visit of a Zen monk Ekai Kawaguchi. The Japanese historians are quite aware that
ancient Japanese academia might have come across about Kathmandu valley while going
through with the accounts of Xuan Jiang, an ancient Chinese traveler.( 'A Brief: n.d.:1)
This relation has been in the fields of exodus of Buddhism as well as Buddhist literature
and adaptation of Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses in Japan. Some of the deities
worshipped in Japan are, of course the Nepalese deities.
The Factors Enhancing Relations:
Nepalese Deities in Japan:
This article mainly deals with Nepal-Japan relations in terms of Buddhism. The
nature of relations is also dealt in terms of Nepalese deities immigrated to Japan in the
ancient times. This has helped to establish good relations between the two countries. It is
very interesting that some of the Nepalese deities mainly Mahamayuri, Saraswati,
Ganesh, Manjusri, Mahankala, Avalokitesvara, Indra, Sakyamuni Buddha, and Amitabha
Buddha are highly revered in Japan. These deities headed to Japan in the ancient times
from China as part of exodus of Buddhism.
Benzaiten (Benten) is the Japanese form of Saraswati, the Nepalese goddess of
learning. Her Japanese counterpart is attributed to fortune, who holds a musical instrument
called biwa. Nepalese Goddess Saraswati arrived in Japan via China as Benzaiten.
Taishakuten (Indara) is the Japanese form of Nepalese god Indra. Taishakuten is also a
very popular god among the Japanese. It is a matter of proud for Japanese if one receives
ablutions in the temple of Taishakuten. (Takamichi: n.d.: 1) This much feeling is sufficient
to know how popular is Indra as a god in Japan.
However, Mahamayuri, a Buddhist deity very popular among the Nepalese
Buddhists, is transformed as Kujaku myo-o in the Japanese version. The deity in the form
of a Sutra was translated into Chinese as early as in the 4th century. This proves that
Mahamayuri was the only text that was more popular in China as well as in Japan.
Mahamayuri is very popular in Japan. She is regarded as the Mother of the Buddha. Such
a recognition proves that one of the text of Pancharaksa (the five protective deities) group
became very popular in Japan. Mahamayauri alone was very famous in the Northern
Buddhist countries. In the Japanese Buddhist culture, Mahamayuri is often depicted in
temple banners and also in the form of statutes. She is called Kujaku myo-o in Japan who
is seated on a peacock. She is figured with one head and four hands. One of her hands
holds a pomegranate instead of classically assigned jewel in Japan (Getty:1978:187). All
the Myo-o (Gods) as in Nepal, promise protection and genuine advantages in this life.(
Takaoki:1972: 148-149). The position assigned to Mahamayuri obviously shows the
importance of protective deities in Japan. Such a popularity of gods and goddesses of
Nepal in Japan obviously helps to know certain kinds of cultural and spiritual exchanges
between Nepal and Japan that helped develop bilateral relations. In addition to exodus of
Nepalese deities in Japan, Buddhism has been one of the important variables in the
relationship with Japan particularly academic one at the people to people level. In this
context, the activities of Japanese people are discussed on the basis of Buddhism
especially visits, repository of Buddhist manuscripts in Japan, and publication of
catalogues of Nepalese manuscripts that are preserved elsewhere in Japan.
Buddhism in Bilateral Relations
Buddhist Library-Nagoya
The Buddhist Library in Nagoya has a vast collection of microfilms of Nepalese
Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts, which is excellent in its subject areas. This library in itself
has played a role of immense significance in the relationship.
Akio Ujike, Professor of Koyasan University, who studied Buddhist Sanskrit
manuscripts of Nepal under Pt. Amogha Vajra Vajracharya got motivated to establish the
Buddhist Library is also the pioneer to introduce Buddhism of Nepal to Japan. The same
Guru also taught iconography to Rev. Takaoka Shucho. He is the one who started a very
ambitious project to microfilm Nepalese Buddhist manuscripts. Rev. Takaoka has
materialized to microfilm thousands of books of Buddhist Mss (1973) that were in
individual possessions. Mr. Ito Akira, late Mr. Kumagaya Seiji, and Takaoka published
wood block prints of 108 Lokesvaras (Hyakuhachi Kannon Mokkoku Zuzoshu Kankokai)
that were produced by Nepalese artists.
The Buddhist Library also initiated Nepal-Buddhist Publisher to publish
translations of Buddhist Sanskrit texts. The experts from both the countries contributed in
this project. They published A Microfilm Catalogue of Buddhist Manuscripts in Nepal and
wood block printing collection of 108 Lokesvaras, Japanese translation of Lokesvara
Parichaya written by Amogha Vajra Vajracharya. The chanting and Puja of
Prajnaparamita at Sensoji-temple (Tokyo), Tokurinji-temple (Nagoya), Myoujuji-temple
(Osaka) and Saikyoji-temple (Kobe) were also organized in time and again on the auspices
of 108 Lokesvara Sangha led by Pt. Asha Kaji Vajracharya. Similarly, a group of Buddhist
musicians also performed the Jnanamala Bhajan and Carya Nritya. The Lokesvar Sangha
also arranged study trips to Nepal for Japanese Buddhists as well.
Shishinkai (a Japanese lay Buddhist Group) also helped to establish The Lotus
Research Center in Patan, which was originally intended for the preservation of the
Buddhism of Nepal.
The activities of the Buddhist Library, Lokeswar Parichaya, and Shishinkai
contributed to the development of Nepal Japan relations through Buddhism.
In addition to it, the contribution of Reiyukai can not be minimized. Among other
things their attempt to create social values is very important (Thapa:1999:10-30). They
also supported activities in Lumbini. The major help there came in the form of
establishment of an international Buddhist Research Institute and a very nice Buddhist
library in Lumbini.
Japanese Repositories of Nepalese Manuscripts
The collection of Buddhist Sanskrit Mss. in Nepal has become an important aspect
of academic relations between Nepal and Japan. The abundant repository of collections of
Mss. in Nepal attracted Japanese Buddhists scholars. So, some of the Japanese Buddhists
monks and scholars collected volumes of Nepalese Mss. and deposited in the institutional
repositories in Japan. Very nice collections are at Tokyo University Library (Matsunami:
1986:1-386), the Faculty of letters at Kyoto university (Kiyotaka: 1983), Tokai University
Library (Yutaka :1960), Taisho archives and the Toyo Bunko. However, the collection of
Rev. Ekai Kawaguchi is the first and foremost (Subedi:1999: 119-125). He collected
Sanskrit manuscripts in Nepal with permission of HRH Maharaja Chandra Shumsher, who
also presented him several volumes of Buddhist manuscripts. He visited Nepal several
times, and was also accompanied by Prof. J. Takakushu in some occasions. The latter also
collected Nepalese Buddhist Mss. and carried on to Japan. His total collection contains
180 volumes, whereas Ekai Kawaguchi collected 390 covering the wide range of subjects.
Altogether they presented 570 volumes of Nepalese manuscripts to the Tokyo University
Library in 1915. Most of them are still a part of this collection. Tokyo University Library
currently has 518 volumes of manuscripts in their possession.
The collection of Nepal's Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts was regarded as even
more precious and pious by the Buddhist everywhere after it was exposed to the outside
world in the middle of the nineteenth century. Certainly, the Japanese scholars have
understood the position of Nepal in the context of Sanskrit Buddhist literature.
Japanese Catalogues of Nepalese Buddhist Mss
Japanese scholars have very much contributed in the study of Buddhist Mss. They
have prepared catalogues of Nepalese Mss in their country.
 A Japanese scholar has prepared a catalogue that included the Buddhist tantric
manuscripts preserved at Keshar Library and the National Archives in Nepal
(Moriguchi:1989:1-158). The Keshar Library collection contains manuscripts of various
Buddhist themes which include - Sutra, Dharani, Purana Tantra, Avadana, jataka,
Bodhicharya, Mandala, Stuti / Stotra, ritual books, and commentaries. Japanese scholars
also showed a keen interest in Nepalese Buddhist manuscripts. The Ven. Ekai Kawaguchi
and Prof. Takakusu of the University of Tokyo collected Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts in
Nepal. There are many centers within Japan that contain Nepalese Mss. The Buddhist
Library alone has several thousand microfilms of Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts from
Nepal, and several catalogues on Nepalese Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts are published
elsewhere in Japan. The Taisho University has also published a brief catalogue on
Buddhist manuscripts, which is at the Bir library in Kathmandu (Buddhist:1955:55-84).
The Ven. Ekai Kawaguchi and Prof. Takakusu also prepared a hand written notebook
which is at Tokyo University; it lists the Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts of that collection
(Catalogue : n. d).
Two other catalogues of Buddhist texts which were published in Japan are also
very important. Matsunami Sieren edited a catalogue of Nepalese Buddhist manuscripts
which are in the Tokyo University Collection (Matsunami:1965:1-386). The other
catalogue is about the extended collection of microfilms of Nepalese Buddhist Sanskrit
literature at the Buddhist Library at Nagoya (Takaoka:1981:1-120).
The catalogue of the University of Tokyo's library has five hundred eighteen
entries of Nepalese Buddhist manuscripts, which have been classified according to the
following types - Sutra (29), Avadana (36), Tantra (85) Dharani (460) and Shastra (28). It
also lists eighty nine non-Buddhist manuscripts. Prof. Takakusu has donated 180 volumes
of manuscripts, which he collected in Nepal in 1913 A.D., to the collection. Ven.
Kawaguchi donated other volumes in 1915. All of the entries in this catalogue have been
classified into six main groups according to the theme of each manuscript, which also
contains the following details such as - short description, title, appearance, property,
folios, lines in a folio, size of the folio, manuscripts number, date of transcription, script,
beginning words, and frame narrative.
In addition to this information, each manuscript refers to other published
catalogues in which the same manuscript is listed. The catalogue numbers of the Taisho
and Peking editions are also included for each manuscript in this catalogue. In case of the
entry is translated in Chinese, it is also indicated in the particulars included with each
manuscript. This information also shows how those manuscripts are related to the one at
the Bir Library collection (Nepal) or at the Royal Asiatic Society of Kolkata.
The catalogue of the Buddhist Library collection of microfilms edited by
Hidenobu Takaoka has nine sections according to theme. Almost every kind of Buddhist
manuscript is included in this catalogue. Sanskrit manuscripts was microfilmed by the
team in Nepal that was sent by the Buddhist Library. These texts are very important in the
study of Mahayana Buddhism. The catalogue was prepared for the purpose of preserving
Nepal's Buddhist heritage and preventing it from losing its tangible and intangible cultural
assets which have been enriched by Nepal's history, religious, and cultural excellence
(Takaoka:1981: III). Due to the fact that Newars are losing interest in traditional and
religious life and values, rites are no longer being passed on precisely, the broken tradition
of the Master-disciple and the relationship and inability to prevent Buddhist manuscripts
from being taken out of the country, the preparation of these catalogues has proved to be
of great help in the preservation of the Buddhist heritage of Nepal. The Buddhist Library
catalogue has entries on Sutra, tantra, Dharani, Vidhi, and other Buddhist themes as well
as entries on Bouddha Shastra as well. Each entry contains details that include - script.
Date, language, material and form of manuscripts, type of paper, size, total number of
folios, size of the folio, total lines in a folio, miniatures paintings, and microfilm reel
number.
Taisho University rendered an invaluable service in the collection of Buddhist
literature, Tibetan Tripitaka, etc. and also published some catalogues, which also included
manuscripts in the Bir Library collection in Nepal (Buddhist :1955:55-84).Tokai
University published another catalogue on Buddhist Sanskrit manuscripts (Imamoto:
1960), and two other important catalogues were also published in Japan (Nagao: 1963;
Kiyotaka and Keiyo: 1983) .
Mitutoshi Moriguchi, a Japanese Buddhist scholar, published a catalogue of the
tantric Buddhist manuscripts at the Keshar Library and National Archives of Nepal
(.Moriguchi:18989:1-158). It is very important catalogue of tantric texts preserved within
Nepal, whose importance has long been recognized.
Mitutoshi Moriguchi came to Nepal in search of the texts of Manjusri Mulakalpa
and Dharmasamuccaya as mentioned in The Memoirs of Taisho University, which are
based on the material of Prof. Ryotai Kaneko of Toyo Bunko (Buddhist:1955:55-84).
While in Kathmandu, Moriguchi searched for Buddhist tantric texts at the National
Archives, Keshar Library, and elsewhere in the city of Kathmandu. He was able to locate
very important tantric manuscripts such as -
• Manjusrijnana Tantra,
• Vajradhatumukhakhyanadegurividhi,
• Vajrodaya,
• Mahamandaladevatanamavali (a part of Vajrodaya),
• Nagarjuna-Indrabhuti (a hypothetical name according to the
small tradition of Advayavajra),
• Guhyasiddijnanasiddisadhnopayika (of the Saptasiddi Samgraha
 included in the works of Kuddarapada),
• Balimala and so forth (Buddhist: 1955:VII).
He also located a copy of Sarvatathagatatattvasamgrahanama Mahayana Sutra in
the Keshar Library under the title of Sarvakulatattvasiddi Vidhivitara tantra. The
manuscripts included in Moriguchi's catalogue are from the National Archives' and Keshar
Library collections and were microfilmed by the NGMPP (Nepal-German Manuscripts
Preservation Project). There are 615 entries, which provide the following details about the
manuscripts: alphabetical order of manuscripts, title of the manuscripts, the author,
microfilm number (status of microfilm), number of folios, type of folios,
complete/incomplete, and date.
In addition to this information, several copies of manuscripts folios are on even
pages in the catalogue that deals with colophons. Similar titles, related titles of the Peking
edition of Tripitaka and sDedge catalogues, and numbers of the same manuscripts are also
given, allowing one to compare the knowledge that is obtained from this catalogue. The
Xerox copies of various manuscripts folios also provide information on the typology of
the folios and on various writing styles. Those folios document changes in the style of
writing, and form of the letters over the centuries. The manuscripts on the list are
identified according to their location by the letters C+ and D+ to indicate the Keshar
Library and National Archives collections respectively. As the title suggests, this
catalogue lists only Buddhist tantric manuscripts. All kinds of tantric books belonging to
the Kriya, Carya, Yoga and Anuttara Yoga tantra are included in this catalogue.
These manuscripts are written in Ranjana, Bhujimol, Newari and Devnagari scripts
on palm-leaf and Nepalese paper folios, and some documents are also written on
Nilapatra (blue dyed paper) folios. Copies are listed in the regular index and in the
supplementary section, which lists the Xerox copies of manuscripts folios. The author
index is also included in the catalogue and contains the names of some prominent
Nepalese Buddhist scholars.
The Nepal-Japan relation at the peoples' level has largely been determined by
Buddhism itself. The activities in learning or publication of Mss related things has
strengthened the relations since long ago. It became the basis of academic relations.
Conclusion:
Not only is the institutional relation between two countries important, the people to
people relation is also very important in bilateral relations. One of the major parts of the
relationship between Nepal and Japan is the relation that has been established at the
peoples' level. In fact, it is very informal type of relations that has been addressed from
different dimensions. In the context of Nepal Japan relations in terms of Buddhism and
related aspects, development of Lumbini as a sacred pilgrimage is significant. The master
plan for developing Lumbini was created by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange
((Bearak:1998:2). The Japan Buddhist Federation also rendered invaluable contribution in
the development of Buddhism and its academic aspects in Nepal. The distinguished
Buddhist Rev. Hiroyuki Kawashima has done considerable work in this context.
References:
• 'A Brief History of Japan-Nepal Relations',(www.np.EmbJapan.go.jp/ relations.
html)
• Barry, Bearak, 'Buddha's Birthplace Hopes for a New Incarnation', Lumbini
Journal, December 2, 1998, www.kenyon.edu/depts/religion/fac/adler/reln260/
lumbini.htm.
Buddhist Manuscripts of the Bir Library, by the Sanskrit Seminar of Taisho University', Memoirs
of Taisho University, No. 40, 1955.
Catalogue of the Kawaguchi Takakushu Collection of Sanskrit Manuscripts Possessed by Tokyo
University Library', (Handwritten), n. d.
• Getty, Alice, (1978), The Gods of Northern Buddhism, New Delhi: Munshi Ram
Manohar Lall.
• Imamoto, Yutaka, (1960), 'Catalogue of Buddhist Sanskrit Manuscripts in the
Library of Tokai University', Proceedings of the Faculty of Letters, Vol. 2, Tokyo:
Tokai University.
• Kiyotaka, Goshima and Keiyo Noguchi (ed), (1983), A Succinct Catalogue of the
Sanskrit Manuscripts in the Possession of the Faculty of Letters, Kyoto: Kyoto
University Press.
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the National Archives of Nepal and Keshar Library, Tokyo: Sankibou Busshorin.
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Hill.
• Seiren, Matsunami (comp), (1965), Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts in the
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• Subedi, Abhi, (1999), Ekai Kawaguchi The Trespassing Insider, Kathmandu:
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Takamichi Okabe, 'Nepalese Deities In Japan', cited in www.np.emb-japan.go.jp/ history/ diet
.html
• Takaoka, Hidenobu (ed.), (1981), A Microfilm Catalogue of the Buddhist
Manuscripts in Nepal Vol. 1, Nagoya, Buddhist Library.
• Thapa, Shanker, (1999), 'Japanese New Religious Movement in Nepal: Its Impact
On Making of a New Social Order', (a research report submitted to the Sumitomo
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