I Love Jaki

Are you familiar with Jaki? They are those slightly pitiful figures found at the feet of Buddhist statues like the Four Heavenly Kings, being trampled upon.

While I love orthodox Buddhist statues, I am also irresistibly drawn to these Jaki.

What is this feeling? Seeing that there are books and merchandise featuring Jaki, it seems I am not the only one. Today, I would like to focus a little on them.

Meeting the Jaki

I probably first saw them at the Kaidan-do Hall of Todai-ji Temple in Nara during my high school field trip, under the feet of the Four Heavenly Kings.

At the time, I thought that the Jaki were having a rough time, perhaps because they had done something bad and were being defeated. They were exaggerated and somewhat comical, leaving a strong impression on me.

After becoming a doctor, I began to notice that Jaki have few fingers, only about three, and a unique short stature, leading me to wonder if they might represent people with congenital disorders or metabolic/endocrine diseases that cause structural abnormalities. I started to sympathize with them on my own, thinking that there must have been prejudice and discrimination in the past, and that they might have been oppressed—poor things.

Looking at them with that perspective, Jaki actually start to look like ordinary people.

Among the Four Heavenly Kings, I like Komokuten, who looks quiet and strict. He appears to be looking into the distance, but if you look closely, he also looks like he is straining his ears. He looks like a face concentrating on sounds coming from afar. He is holding a brush and paper, so perhaps he is trying to write down what he hears. He looks like he is saying to the Jaki he is trampling, 'Shh! Be quiet.' Then, the Jaki cooperates, stopping its squirming and staying still... doesn't it look that way to you?

Speaking of cooperating Jaki, the corner demons (kuki) of the Kondo Hall at Toshodai-ji Temple, which guard the four corners of the room, are well-known. These also seem like relatives of the Jaki. I bought a file when I visited recently.

The photo at the beginning shows one supporting an incense burner stand at Todai-ji Nigatsu-do Hall, literally an unsung hero. Looking at them like this, it seems they are all supporting each other.

The heroes of the Jaki world, Tentoki and Ryutoki!

While Jaki are like the bit-part villains in a large studio, the heroes who emerged from among them are Ryutoki and Tentoki at Kofuku-ji Temple. The open-mouthed Tentoki (right) and the closed-mouthed Ryutoki (left) form a set, representing the relationship of A-un. Tentoki looks as if he has just appeared saying, 'Delivery is here!' doesn't he?

They are also sold at high-end Buddhist statue figure shops.

Remembering a great actor of the Showa era

Speaking of great Showa-era actors who were bit-part villains and later became huge stars, it is this person.

https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/articles/?id=D0009250231_00000#

While thinking about the charm of Jaki, I was reminded of Takuzo Kawatani.