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Created page with "*''Japanese'': 弥勒菩薩 ''(miroku bosatsu)'' Miroku is the Japanese incarnation of the ''bodhisattva'' known as Maitreya in Sanskrit. Worshipped as the Buddha of the ..."
*''Japanese'': 弥勒菩薩 ''(miroku bosatsu)''

Miroku is the Japanese incarnation of the ''[[bodhisattva]]'' known as Maitreya in Sanskrit. Worshipped as the Buddha of the Future, the entity who will usher in a new age of peace & enlightenment when he becomes [[Buddha]] in the future, Miroku is among the more prominent Buddhist deities in Japan.

A 7th century wooden sculpture of Miroku held at [[Koryu-ji|Kôryû-ji]] in Kyoto is particularly famous as the first object in Japan to have been designated a [[National Treasure]].

Maitreya (C: ''Mílè'') is also prominent in China, famously appearing, for example, in the Three Buddhas Cave at [[Longmen Caves|Longmen]], a rare instance where Maitreya is the central figure in a triad.

==Miruku==
[[File:Miruku.jpg|right|thumb|320px|Miruku coming ashore (left) in a festival, as seen in a display at the [[National Museum of Japanese History]]]]
Miroku is perhaps the most commonly worshipped deity in the [[Ryukyu Islands]], especially the [[Yaeyama Islands]],<ref name=okipref>Gallery label "Ishigaki-shi Tonoshiro no Miruku-jin" 石垣市登野城のミルク神, Okinawa Prefectural Museum.</ref> where he is known as Miruku. A figure dressed as Miruku is a common feature of many island festivals, in a long yellow robe and large white mask, and carrying a [[duck-web fan]]; this form or appearance for Miruku is the result of influence from the form of the deity Budai (J: [[Hotei]]) as imagined/depicted in Southern China.<ref name=okipref/> In many of these festivals, the god is believed to come from across the sea, from ''[[nirai kanai]]'', and comes ashore bringing ''[[yugafu|yugafû]]'' (good fortune). The arrival of the deity is invited, encouraged and celebrated by [[dragon boats|dragon boat]] races, along with decorative spears, banners, ''[[shisa]]'' dances and other festivities.

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==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Deities]]
[[Category:Ryukyu]]
[[Category:Buddhism]]
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