The Gods of Northern Buddhism

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

The study of the visual forms and symbols iconography of the deities in the Great Vehicle original: Mahāyānist collection of gods pantheon can change from one day to another. The discovery of an unknown scriptural text sūtra in a Buddhist monastery, a wall painting fresco in a cave temple in Chinese Turkestan, or a statue in China or Indo-China may alter everything we know about a deity and make a revision necessary. I have carefully noted these changing aspects and have included them in this work, along with all the interesting information I acquired during my recent travels in East Asia original: the Far East.

I wish to express my thanks to Mr. original: M. (Monsieur) Paul Pelliot, whose invaluable criticism of the first edition provided a solid foundation for this revision.

Mr. E. J. Thomas of Cambridge, in his review of the first edition in the journal The Museum original: Muséon, states that "many important divinities have not been treated at all." I have carefully checked this statement and found that the goddess Mahā Māyūrī—the divine personification of the "Golden Peacock Snake Charm"—is the only significantly important deity I omitted. She seems to have been less offended by this omission than Mr. Thomas was; while I was in Korea original: Corea, I had a narrow escape from a venomous snake bite that was so close to miraculous it seemed to be the direct work of Mahā Māyūrī Vidyārājñī The Great Peahen Queen of Magic herself.

It has been my difficult duty to "dethrone" the powerful God of Wealth, Kuvera. In his place, beside the fascinating nature spirit Yakshiṇī Hāritī, I have placed the spirit general Yakṣa, Pāñcika. His identity only became clear after the first edition was published. I must thank Mr. original: M. A. Foucher for his wise advice, which guided me through this difficult and delicate correction.

I have added the iconography of the Buddhist deities of Indo-China (especially Lokeśvara The Lord of the World, a form of Avalokiteśvara and Prajñāpāramitā The Perfection of Wisdom). In this effort, I was greatly helped by the kindness of Mr. original: M. Louis Finot, the former director of the French School of the Far East original: École Française d’Extreme Orient in Hanoi, as well as Mr. original: M. Marchal, the Curator original: Conservateur of the Angkor Group, who helped me study various statues still located deep in the jungle.

Both Mr. original: M. J. Hackin, the Curator original: Conservateur of the Guimet Museum original: Musée Guimet, and Mr. original: M. Victor Goloubew have pointed out interesting data which I have used in this second edition. I wish to thank them, as well as Mr. Arthur Waley and Mr. original: M. Serge Eliséeff, who very kindly translated certain passages from Japanese for me.

Baron de Stael-Holstein has recently discovered a series of small statues statuettes of Buddhist deities in the Forbidden City in Beijing original: Peking. Each statue has the name of the deity inscribed on it. His upcoming book is eagerly awaited by all students...