In browsing last week I came across a new resource for those of us interested in Japanese Buddhism. The site is at: http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/
JAANUS is the on-line Dictionary of Japanese Architectural and Art Historical Terminology compiled by Dr. Mary Neighbour Parent, an American art historian with a long and distinguished career in Asian art.
This dictionary contains approximately 8000 terms related to traditional Japanese architecture and gardens, painting, sculpture and art-historical iconography from approximately the 1st century A.D. to the end of the Edo period (1868). Terms from related fields such as lacquer, ceramics, textiles and metalwork have been included where they are considered to be of general interest and/or impact on the principal fields of architecture, painting and sculpture. These definitions are not translations from any one Japanese monolingual dictionary, but have been collated from a range of specialist sources and scholarly publications, and from direct observation and study. Many have never before been defined in English.
This is not a definitive work. Although every effort has been made to create as accurate a compilation as possible, new discoveries will, most likely, complement our endeavor. However, new discoveries can sometimes negate old findings, facts or myths. Therefore, should you find discrepancies or errors, let us know as any corrections can benefit all.
While this is not a source for Dharma terms, it reflects the overlap between Japanese Buddhism and art, with a great deal of similar terminology.
Yours in the Dharma,
Innen, doshu
om namo amida butsu
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