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The purpose of the present paper is to compare an aspect of Jodokyou(淨土敎) culture between Japan and Korea. To this end, I have undertaken to show the rerationship between the legend of Queen Idaike found in the “Kanmuryojukyo(觀無量壽經)” and the story of “Niga Byakudo(二河白道)” as expounded in the “Kanmuryojukyosho(觀無量壽經疏)” of Zendo of Tang China. With regard to the story of Queen Idaike(韋提希), both the seated figure of a woman carved of stone in the Gesseji(月精寺) temple of Korea and a seated figuer found in the ruins of Shinpukuji(神福寺) temple were both modeled on Queen Idaike(韋提希). It is further thought that these stone carvings were meant to represent the Jodokyou(淨土敎) belief in Amidabutsu(阿彌陀佛) in Korea.
In Japan, the story of princess Chujo(中將) was a well-known adaptation of the Queen Idaike(韋提希) legend. The essence of the story is seen in Scenes of Paradise scroll, known as the Taima Mandara(當麻曼茶羅). Princess Chujo(中將) received the Taima Mandara(當麻曼茶羅) from the incarnated Amidabutsu(阿彌陀佛) and Kannon Bosatus(觀音菩薩). She was able to enter Paradise while praying as she viewed the painting. The Taimadera(當麻寺) temple “Mukaeko(迎講)” is a popular festival in which the ascenscion of the princess into Paradise is staged.
Regarding the “Niga Byakudo(二河白道)” large numbers of copise of the painting of the same name were made and distributed in Japan from the 13th century. Further, the story of the “Niga Byakudo” was widely incorporated into dreams and buddhist festivals during the early and late middle ages, among which the Mukaeko(迎講) continues to be performed. In some festivals for the dead, white cloth is used, whith is considered a legacy of the “Niga Byakudo” story.
No art work comparable to the “Niga Byakudo” survives in Korea, nor in China for that matter. However, elements of the “Niga Byakudo” are strongly incorporated in the shamanistic spirit festivals. More concretely, white cloth is used in the ceremony. The ceremony in which the shaman tears white cloth to send to the departed souls of the dead is a reenactment of the story of the “Niga Byakudo”. There is also a ceremony in which vessels called “yongseun(龍船)” are laid on white cloth, and the souls of the departed ride the vessels over to the world of death. This seems very much like the “Daihatsu Nirvana Sutra” from which the story of “Niga Byakudo” is taken.
In addition, I have presented several other iconographic example in this paper.