Last modified: 2013-12-21 by rob raeside
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image by Tomislav Todorovic, 14 November 2010
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 14 November 2010
Although the "standard" Buddhist flag is also used in Japan [1],
there is a widely used flag with green, yellow, red, white and blue colors,
which represent five Dhyani Buddhas [2, 3],
who are worshipped by many Buddhists in Japan. The flag has both the horizontal
and the vertical variants, which can be used simultaneously, as was seen in Kyoto on
2008-09-23 [4]. The flag was also used in Tokyo on 2006-04-08, during the
celebration of Hanamatsuri ("Flower Festival" - Buddha's birthday), which was
organized by Tsukiji Honganji temple [5, 6]. Both of these examples indicate
the use of the flag by the Jodo Shin Shu sect, whose teachings actually
concentrate on only one of the Dhyani Buddhas, Amitabha, but the concept is
obviously not alien to them. The flags often appear in form of the windsock,
with hoist edge sewn into a tube and fly edge divided into five separate
tongues. This was seen in Kyoto on 2007-03-26 [7] and 2010-10-18 [8] and in
Nishinomiya on on 2006-09-20 [9]. Another photo of a "windsock flag",
accompanied with three koinobori (carp-shaped windsocks) hoisted for the
Children's Day, can be seen at the Wikipedia [10].
Sources:
[1] Flickr - "Standard" Buddhist flag in Kyoto (photographed on 2005-11-30):
www.flickr.com/photos/hyougushi/68654166
[2] Wikipedia page about the
Buddhist flag: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_flag
[3] Wikipedia
page about the Five Dhyani Buddhas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Dhyani_Buddhas
[4] Photo of two Buddhist flags in Kyoto at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sectarian_Buddhist_flag.jpg
[5] Buddhist flags at the Hanamatsuri parade, Tokyo, on 2006-04-08:
http://photoguide.jp/pix/displayimage.php?album=278&pos=58
[6] Photoguide.jp website - about the Tsukiji Honganji temple and the
Hanamatsuri: http://photoguide.jp/pix/index.php?cat=162
[7] Flickr -
Buddhist "windsock flags" in Kyoto (photographed on 2007-03-26):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrissam42/443309056/in/set-72157600042576015
[8] Flickr - Buddhist "windsock flag" in Kyoto (photographed on 2010-10-18):
www.flickr.com/photos/markliddell/5089955703/
[9] Flickr - Buddhist
"windsock flag" in Nishinomiya (photographed on 2006-09-20):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edandbec/272957410/
[10] Photo of a Buddhist
"windsock flag" with three koinobori at the Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Koinobori4797.jpg
image by J. Ehrlich Zdvorak 21 December 2000
I saw this flag in Korea on several Buddhist institutions and temples. Korean
Buddhism (mostly Son, or Zen) is Mahayana Buddhism. In this case, this swastika
is, of course, something completely different than the one which national-socialist ideology had used in twentieth century.
J. Ehrlich Zdvorak 21 December 2000
recoloured from image by António Martins-Tuválkin 27 November 2001
The Japanese sect of Pure Land Buddhism known as "Jodo Shin Shu" uses the
Buddhist flag as shown on the FOTW website. However, the Orange fields are
replaced with pink and that is the only difference. I have grown up in the
Japanese community and have attended temple since I was a Dharma School student
(like Sunday School). I have been staring at the Jodo Shin Shu Flag in our
Temple for many years sitting there in the congregation. The US flag hold the
place of honor next to the altar and the Jodo Shin Shi flag on the opposite
side. I only remember this because we have a Boy and Girl scout troop at the
temple and they often use the flags in scouting ceremonies (i.e., taking
the scout oath and receiving the Sangha or Padma scout religious medals for
Buddhism). Our Sensei once brought out the flag during a sermon and explained
the flag and the difference between it and the World Buddhist Flag.
Shaku Seiju, 5 March 2005
On the current Los Angeles Buddhist Temple website (called Nishi Hongwanji
Los Angeles Betsuin ) there is a section on their site that shows Buddhist
symbols. The Buddhist flag is one of them:
http://www.nishihongwanji-la.org/church/buddhism/jodo_shinshu.html
The description that accompanies the photo of the flag is 'The first five
stripes of the flags are self-colors of blue, yellow, red, white and light red.
The sixth color is a combination of the five. The flag symbolizes the unity and
harmony of Buddhists.'
Earlier I stated that the fifth color was "pink". However in the description
here, it is listed as light red. I'm sure when you look at the photo you might
agree that it looks pink like I had stated.
Shaku Seiju, 23 June 2005