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Re: Re: Translation on back of Buddha

Posted By: I.Nagy
Posted Date: Sep 07, 2020 (08:28 PM)

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Here is my translation of Japanese text (numerical figures omitted). I hope it's better than the Google translator's one.

Ǒgawara-machi, Jizō-dō (Temple hall with Ksitigarbha (Jizō) image)
Six Boddhisatvas stone pagoda, inscription dated;
12th Year of Tenbun (1543). It is the oldest Boddhisattva sculpture in town. The faith of locals is strong toward it. The caretaker cleans it on the 1st and 20th of each month. It is said that he prays all-night there. I examined the gilt bronze standing statue of Boddhisatva and the Guanyin statue with the willow-branch - both foreign origin.
Inscription on the back of gilt bronze standing statue of Boddhisatva:
Song Dynasty, 3rd Year of Jingping Era (425), 10th of January
Zhang Fa erected this Buddha statue with respect
Man and wife for the four kind of compassions and six ways of existence of all beings in Dharma's realm in hope to attain the wonderful fruit of bodi (enlighetment and nirvana).
There is some doubt about the age. The engravings could have been added later. The Guanyin statue in half lotus position with willow-branch in hand is old, too. There is an opinion that it's a simplified copy of a Song - Yuan eara Guanyin. (History of Hirado City, Vol. Etnohistory)
The rest of Japanese text is about the reading of some obscure characters, and the meaning of Buddhist words.

In my opinion in the 一區 expression the 一 is
one (number), not a hyphen. The 區 is a quantifier (used to count nouns in Chinese - there
hundreds of them - however, this one is not used in contemporary Mandarin Chinese. Namely, one piece of Buddha statue. On the other hand in the Chinese 一 is not used as hyphen.
Therefore, the name of the person (man and wife) who got erected the statue was called Zhang Fa, and not Mr. and Mrs. Ou - at least according to my humble opinion.

With regards,
I.Nagy


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