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