Miroku

Buddha of the future

Miroku is the Japanese name of Maitreya, the successor to the historical Buddhas Shakyamuni. When mappō has brought the current era to a close, Miroku is supposed to descend from the Tushita Heaven (Jap. Tossotsuten) to usher in a new age of the dharma.

 As with the images of Kannon, over the ages, Miroku came to be depicted more androgynously.

Miroku

Ghandara, 3rd cent.

Miroku image

Yachūji, Osaka

Japan’s best-known Miroku Kōryūji, Kyoto

Miroku image

Chūgūji, Nara

at Kōryūji

Miroku

anime style vision