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Encyclopaedia of Ancient, Obscure and Esoteric East Asian Religious Practices

Miniature Caitya Production as Ritual Technology

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

Canonical entry drawn from a single source layer in 12_ILLUSTRATED_DEITY_MATERIAL_DHARANI_v2_0.md.

Research layers

Section titled “Research layers”

Layer 1: Miniature Caitya Production as Ritual Technology

Section titled “Layer 1: Miniature Caitya Production as Ritual Technology”

Source file: 12_ILLUSTRATED_DEITY_MATERIAL_DHARANI_v2_0.md

Witness: Toh 884 and related Vimaloṣṇīṣa manuals.

Research significance

Section titled “Research significance”

The text is practice-oriented and applies dhāraṇī specifically to production of miniature caityas.

Reconstruction workflow

Section titled “Reconstruction workflow”
  1. Read the exact caitya manual.
  2. Catalogue dimensions, mold/form, material and cavity.
  3. Identify the stage at which dhāraṇī is recited over material.
  4. Identify written dhāraṇī placement.
  5. Reconstruct only with safe inert clay/materials.
  6. Perform recitation during the textually specified manufacturing stage.
  7. Insert the sacred text where prescribed.
  8. Seal and complete the miniature monument.
  9. Consecrate/dedicate.

Image priority

Section titled “Image priority”

Future visual retrofit should include archaeological miniature caityas, molds and opened examples showing internal dhāraṇī deposits.

v2.0 VISUAL ACQUISITION QUEUE

Section titled “v2.0 VISUAL ACQUISITION QUEUE”

High-priority institutional/public-domain images now identified:

  • Aizen Myōō, Met 44910.
  • Benzaiten and Fifteen Attendants, Met 45623.
  • Benzaiten and Ugajin, Met 45632.
  • Marishiten on votive/archery object, Met 23754.
  • Dakini composite, Met 929160.
  • Myōken Star Mandala, Met Japanese Mandalas gallery.
  • Four Deities of Mount Kōya, Met 671016.

Next visual targets:

  • Kangiten paired-elephant form.
  • Ucchuṣma / Ususama Myōō.
  • Batō Kannon / Hayagrīva.
  • Vajrapāṇi in Japanese and Tibetan forms.
  • Yakushi / Seven Medicine Buddhas.
  • Jizō and Ten Kings.
  • Akṣobhya.
  • miniature caitya and dhāraṇī deposits.
  • consecrated sand and funerary dhāraṇī material.
  • tsa-tsa molds and deposits.
  • statue-cavity consecration objects.
  • relic pills and printed dhāraṇī.