Let's Appreciate Buddhist Art! (The Lotus)

"Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet its petals."

-Gautama Siddharta, founder of Buddhism   

One of the Eight Auspicious Signs of Buddhism, the Lotus is probably the most familiar to Western eyes.  From packs of incense to West Elm's latest "ethnic" catalog, the lotus-enthroned Buddha shows up everywhere in the States.  In Japan, the Buddha is often seen at temples, seated on a blooming lotus, or holding a lotus stem.  Temple sanctuaries are decorated with gilt, lotus sculptures.  Lotus are painted on the charms available for purchase, and are stamped in shrine books.  Why is the flower so important to Buddhism?

The Buddha, seated on a massive lotus.  Todaiji temple, Nara, Japan.

A smaller, lotus-seated Buddha outside Sensoji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.

A tranquil, lotus-filled pond is often a key element of Buddhist temple gardens.  There are many blooming, aquatic plants in nature; however, the lotus is unique in the height that its blooms attain, as they rise above the rippling waters.  Displaying perfect and pristine blossoms, the lotus encompasses the most key of Buddhist teachings.

A stone pillar illustrates the stages of the lotus' growth (Sensoji, Asakusa, Tokyo).

The lotus takes root in dirty pond water.  Just as human beings languish in a state of materialism, so is the lotus rooted in ugliness.  As the lotus grows up through muddy water and reaches for sun, so should followers of the Buddha cast off their earthly urges and reach for enlightenment.

The pillar's other side illustrates the final stage of the lotus.

The pure, perfect  lotus flower, open in full bloom, is as a person who has finally attained enlightenment.

"As a lotus flower is born in the water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world,"

- Gautama Siddharta

Lotus about to bloom at Hasedera temple in Kamakura, Japan.

Interested in admiring some lotus?  Sankeien Gardens, located in Yokohama, has an enormous pond that is chock-full of lotus!  The Gardens' official Lotus Blooming Season will take place from July 14- August 5.  Admission to the Gardens is 500 yen for adults and 200 yen for elementary-aged children.  It is usually open from 9:00-17:00, but will have a special Lotus Season opening time of 6 am.  More information on Sankeien Gardens can be found here.  Hopefully, the link to the Google-translated page works properly!


Ueno's lotus pond is the largest in Tokyo.  Visit this one on a weekday, as Ueno gets super crowded on weekends!


Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!