The use of the photographic image as a source of documentation and memory: a tour of the buddhist tradition of the Nikkyoji temple

Abstract

This work makes use of images to compose a memory documentation and imagery of the community buddhist of the Nikkyoji central temple, which belongs to the current Japanese Honmon Butsuryu-shu (HBS), located in São Paulo. We consider here the fact of the HBS to be the oldest Buddhist aspect in Brazil, reaching the country in 1908, under the hands of the priest Issui Ibaragui. We have at our disposal, so more than a century of history and tradition, to be unveiled through images.The task at hand is to follow the routine of the temple priests Nikkyoji, showing their various practices and activities, as well as the participation of believers in different religions (be it morning, posthumous or home), pass around a central ritual, which is the veneration and worship of an inscription (writing) sacred heart of this Buddhist tradition. Such registration, recited almost incessantly called Namumyouhourenguekyou, and consists of the sutra (teachings transmitted by Shakyamuni Buddha or History Buddha) which represents the tripartite foundation of the HBS, whilst the doctrine, prayer and sacred image of this trend.To fulfill this mission, this research moves on land separate but talk to one another. The intent is to use the field research (concept from classical Anthropology) to produce a photographic documentation (sort of visual Ethnography) of the main ritual of the oldest Buddhist tradition in Brazilian territory. Theology, Anthropology and Photography mingle here, for the sake of research. (AU)