A Nichiren School Buddhist temple has embraced the spirit of moe in order to win new converts, and has created a series of marvellous moe illustrations of the Buddhist pantheon in order to connect with contemporary youth.
The temple in question is situated in Tokyo’s Hachiouji City, and named 松栄山 了法寺 / Shoueizan Ryouhouji; it practices Nichiren Buddhism.
Buddhism having something of a musty air about it where Japan’s youth is concerned, it is not very appealing to most and has trouble winning converts, though a tangential connection between Lucky Star and Shinto has recently drummed up some interest in shrine-going.
However, the sister of the chief priest at the temple was discussing the matter with an “Akiba-kei” acquaintance, and it was suggested to use some moe style illustrations to help draw in young men.
Fortuitously, the acquaintance in question, a young lady going by the pseudonym of “Toromi”, was also an adept artist and drew some charming moe illustrations of the Buddhist divinities for use on a signboard outside the temple, and also online on a site for mobile phones.
Benzaiten (Saraswati, goddess of music and the waters): “My sword protects the righteous. My jewel expresses my devotion.”
Inari (Foxy harvest god and Inari-dou stone servants): “We kitsune (foxes) are Inari-sama’s servants. We are not Inari-sama though.”
How to Pray: “Place your hands together and recite ‘Namu-Myou-Hou-Ren-Ge-Kyou’”
Visitors to the temple are said to have increased since the illustrations were commissioned, though the illustrations themselves are not used inside the temple yet.
The priests, who in Japan are traditionally rather worldly and relatively mercantile, are said to be considering more aggressive application of their moe brand, and even the sale of moe goods on the temple grounds.
This is a lady dragon, apparently.
As 2ch puts it “If the Buddha can save people, then there is no doubt – he must be a bishoujo.”
Via Itai News.
With modernised religious imagery of such quality, it even seems missionary activity in Japan and beyond is a possibility…
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I guess the buddhists see the enlightenment by moe.
What if they integrated the Saint Oniisan manga? The one where Buddha & Jesus take a vacation on earth
Sign me up!
WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW?!
im sorry, i just had to say it..
Buddhism doesn't have God, apparently.
Just wait!! science will give us true anime >...< lolz
they will give uz Gundumbz
DRAGONBALL SHENG LONG!!!!
Oh Jesus
Hmm.. Christianity anime-fied.. Bishie Jesus with His 12 Bishie Disciples..?
Y...MCA! Y....MCA!
There must be a lack of young disciples...
All the more reason to convert to Buddhism
The illustrations are like from a free korean mmorpg :o
Waitwaitwait- What?
Do you have a link for that mmorpg, by any chance?
Oh my its toooooo cute. Buddha must be a bishoujo.
hehe
i agree
this is better than some fa--*got shot*
Sorry I'm already converted to Touhouism
Bah, I still like Shinto better.
But I like how this is still heavily animistic influences Buddhism and not "pure" Buddhism like someone talked about at a thread on the forums.
That Benzaiten and Inari foxes interest me.
One of these days I was wanting to convert to Buddhism through other means but even so
Hell Im sold XD
I`ve always been interested in Buddhism, but this just might have pushed me over the edge....
Genius,pure genius.
“If the Buddha can save people, then there is no doubt – he must be a bishoujo.” I second.
But are you people sure this moe method will ignite tangential learning and attract actual converts instead of just an attempt to take advantage of the moe craze. I’m thinking of converting to Buddhism. And even though this seems like a good way to get converts, I’m not interested in moe that much. and this seem to me like a hit and a miss to people who actually want to join.
So much win in this post.
becoming monk for that...
Kavaj buddhizmus gecyk
loool temple buddhist moe
imagine Christians doing the same Moe Nuns lol
I'm shocked by the number of converts in the comments. Don't you realize that mikos are in Shinto shrines?
Added to my list of places to visit when I go to Japan. MAN THIS VACATION IS GUNNA PWN!!!
How about a shota Jesus? Mmmmmm....
O SHIT THE FLOOR IS TURNING INTO LAVA
I can´t believe they are using something as important as moe to do such a mundane task.
Fuck this shit. I want my Gods to be manly and kick-ass. I'm becoming an Asatru.
>Buddhism
>propagating delusions
what... just what.
Maby GOD will be happy about it?? @@
Oh my...
God, let's stop this stupid moe fad.
It's so cheap and so easy. Make a random product (or in this case, a school), make a cute female mascot for it = 100 % success rate.
It doesn't make sense. At this rate, everyone will make a mascot for their product and everything is going to be cliché. It's a really cheap technique, and I think this school would attract pupils for the wrong reasons... People should join this school because they have the right ideals about Buddhism, not because they get to fap on the image of the school's entrance...
Better change your avatar then if you have serious problems with Moe marketing..
You have quite a good point there.
I don't mind moe-marketing, I think it's idiot that when you paste a sticker with a moe character on a watermelon, that it boosts sale.
And people are saying that I overreact, but what's with all the reactions defending this like I insulted their mother.
OH I FUCKED YOUR MOM LAST NIGHT OOOH OOOH OOOH.
Now get mad.
I think the illustrations are to drum up interest. Not even otaku will SERIOUSLY join a religion for the moe characters. There are a few who would, I'm sure, but the moe will attract attention to the ideals of the religion which could attract true converts.
Besides, I like the idea of moefication. I mean, moe-Buddha isn't going to convert me to Buddhism, but it'll give me something cute to look at and might make some of the stories a little more interesting.
As for everything becoming cliche... you haven't been here long, huh? You can't take a step in any direction when media (or anything else, really) is involved without tripping over a clusterfuck of cliche. Sturgeon's Law/Revelation is something you may want to check out, my friend.
GTFO Mr.Retard-wuss
Urgh, stop sending weird images to my head.
Cry more, fag.
So you suggests that anything is fine if it has an anime girl on it? Well, good luck with your anal beads with Konata on it.
"It was suggested to use some moe style illustrations to help draw in young men."
Using they are using a Transgender Dragon and few jail bait kids to attract people into Nichiren Buddhism.
But are you people sure this moe will ignite tangential learning and attract actual converts instead of just an attempt to take advantage of the moe craze. I'm thinking of converting to Buddhism. And even though this seems like a good way to get converts, I'm not interested in moe that much. and this seem to me like a hit and a miss to people who actually want to join.
Who cares, seriously ? If you're buying sex products in Japan, you shouldn't really be surprised.
About Buddhism, It's not like there's no serious works on it. Maybe they want to explain it clearly to people attracted to animes but not attracted to scholastic books. Or maybe their audience is children.
Plus, I don't really see messages like "Go buddhism, it's the right thing". It looks more like an explanation like people already done, with simple drawings, for a lot of things.
I think you're just reacting because it's advertised as "Moe" on Sankaku complex and you're relating it to other news.
And what's with your argument anyway ? It it's fine but also attracts dumbass then stop it ? Manga-like characters should only be sticked to manga ? Geez, speak about closed-minded.
This is true, this mentality goes against many anime's and manga's which are just stories, myths, and folklore re-imagined. More so, those were written because the creator had an interest in their muse. It's just a way of expressing that interest which draws others to it as well. Haven't you ever read a manga and than looked up the characters names or the monsters used in the story?
Explanation and education about Buddhism yes using Cartoons to educate younger children effectively works.
I can understand Temple trying to attract young people because they need funds to keep that temple buisness going, I have to say its laughable.
0.0
Konata anal beads?!?! WHERE?!
They never said they wanted to attract young guys. This is an interpretation of the first journalist. The only citation speaking about youngsters is : 「若い人を引き寄せるためにと、とても魅力的な絵を描いてくれた」 which can be roughly translated by "In order to pull the interest from younsters, we offered really charming drawings".
And manga is one standard for drawings in Japan. Like I said before, you're off the point. They're trying to pull some interest in buddhism with simple explanations which aren't proselyt. Their audience is people is youngsters and a lot of them aren't interested in books. Maybe they will after but not now. Maybe the same thing is done in other countries, using cartoons to explain some religions or *gasp* even scientific matters !
Explanations are explanations. That you do it with an encylopedia, conference or visual novel, it's still an explanation. You're overreacting because there's the word "Moe".
No, I'm suggesting that you keep whining like a little bitch. Looks like you're listening. Good job.