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On the Symbol of Sexual Embrace Yab Yum in Tantric Turkish Buddhism

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 54 - 84, 01.01.2022
https://doi.org/10.35236/jots.1032251

Abstract

As a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, which emerged from Tibet in the VIIth century AD and spread to neighboring and distant geographies from Tibet, is a branch of Buddhism that aims to enlightenment through meditation and magic. It is also known as Tibetan Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism or Esoteric Buddhism, which aims to purify the person through various methods in the state of meditation with teaching techniques such as mantra, dhāraṇī, maṇḍala and mudrā. Tibetan Buddhism, which steered the tradition of XIVth century Central Asian Buddhism, visualized various rituals with both various depictions and painting and sculpture art, and especially reflected this sexual symbolism such as sexual intercourse and sexual embrace in the personality of female gods, female Buddhas, female Bodhisattvas and protective Deities (yidams). The Sexual Embrace, a product of Tantric Sex symbolism, is described by the Tibetan term yab yum. This term describes the embrace of Buddha-Mother and Buddha-Father as the primordial union of wisdom and compassion. Sexual Embrace, which is also seen in Buddhist Uyghurs, is understood by the use of the words ög qaŋ, ög t(ä)ŋri qızı, quč- and qučmaq in the descriptions in the texts of Berliner Turfantexte VII and Berliner Turfantexte XXXVI. Accordingly, in the first part of this study, which consists of two parts, the religious value of the Tibetan yab yum expression is shown in detail by including the opinions of various researchers, the appearance of the Tibetan yab yum form in Buddhist Uyghurs, which is theoretically informed, is discussed in the second part and responds to this sexual symbolism. The narrations are tried to be shown iconographically with pictures.

References

  • Beer, R. (1999). The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs. Boston: Shambhala Publications.
  • Bhattacharyya, B. (1958). The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on The Sādhanamālā and Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals. Calcutta: Mukhopadhyay.
  • Blofeld, J. (1992). The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet: A Practical Guide to the Theory, Purpose, and Techniques of Tantric Meditation. USA: Penguin Books.
  • Buswell, R. E. & Lopez, D. E. (2014). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Buswell, R. E. (2004). Encyclopedia of Buddhism I-II. Detroit: Thomsen Gale.
  • Donaldson, T. E. (2001). Iconograpy of The Buddhist Sculpture of Orissa I (Text). New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts Abhinav Publications.
  • Gendun Chopel (2018). The Passion Book: a Tibetan Guide to Love & Sex. Trans. Donald S. Lopez Jr. & Thupten, J. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
  • Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (1997).‎ Essence of Vajrayana: The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice of Heruka Body Mandala. New York: Tharpa Publications.
  • Getty, A. (1928). The Gods of Northern Buddhism. Their History, Iconography and Progressive Evolution Through the Northern Buddhist Countries. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  • Gordon-White, D. (2000). Tantra in Practice. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Gray, D. (2007). The Cakrasamvara Tantra (The Discourse of Sri Heruka): Śrīherukābhidhāna: A Study and Annotated Translation (Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences). USA: Wisdom Publications.
  • Heroldová, H. (2016). “Father and Mother”: Tantric Couples in the Collection of the Náprstek Museum and the History of the Collection Description. Annals of the Náprstek Museum, 37(1), 71-86.
  • Jones, K. H. (2003). The New Social Face of Buddhism: A Call to Action. USA: Wisdom Publications.
  • Jordan, M. (2004). Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  • Kara, G. & Zieme, P. (1976). Fragmente tantrischer Werke in uigurischer Übersetzung. Berliner Turfantexte VII. Berlin: Akademie Verlag. (→ BT VII)
  • Keown, D. (2003). Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Lee, K. S. (2005). East and West: Fusion of Horizons. USA: Homa & Sekey Books.
  • Lessing, F. D. (2017). Moğolca-Türkçe Sözlük. Çev. Karaağaç, G. Ankara: Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları.
  • Müller, F. W. K (1928). Ein uigurisch-lamaistisches Zauberritual aus den Turfanfunden. Sitzungsberichte, der Preußischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Phil.-hist. Klasse (pp. 381-386). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
  • Neville, R. C. (1987). New metaphysics for eternal experience. Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 14, 357-370.
  • Odin, S. (1982). Process Metaphysics and Hua-Yen Buddhism: A Critical Study of Cumulative Penetration Vs. Interpenetration. USA: Suny Press.
  • Peng, J. (2013). An Exploration of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and its Art: A Potential Resource for Contemporary Spiritual and Art Practice. University College London, Slade School of Fine Art (Unpublished PhD Thesis).
  • Peng, J. et al. (2020). Yab-Yum Images: The Most Controversial form in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and its Art. International Journal of Management and Applied Science (IJMAS), 6(1), 52-56.
  • Porció, T. (2003). On the tecnique of translating Buddhist texts into Uygur. In Sven, B. & Wilkens, J. (Eds.). Indien und Zentralasien–Sprach- und Kulturkontakt (pp. 85-94). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag.
  • Porció, T. (2000). The One with the White Parasol, Four Sitātapatrā Texts in the Derge Kanjur and a Dunhuang Text (Pelliot Tibétain No. 45) with an Annotated English Translation of the Longest Canonical Version. Faculty of Arts of the University of Vienna. (Unpublished PhD Thesis).
  • Powers, J. (2009). Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. New York: Snow Lion.
  • Simmer-Brown, J. (2002). Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism. Boston: Shambhala.
  • Soothill, W. E. & Hodous, L. (1937). A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms with Sanskrit and English Equivalents and Sanskrit-Pali Index. London: Kegan Paul.
  • Sørensen, H. H. (2011). Central Divinities in the Esoteric Buddhist Pantheon in China. In Orzech, C. D. et al. (Eds.), Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia (pp. 90-132). Leiden-Boston: Brill.
  • Thurman, R. A. F. (2010). Brilliant Illumination of the Lamp of the Five Stages (Rim lnga rab tu gsa/ ba’i sgron me) Practical Instruction in the King of Tantras, The Glorious Esoteric Community by Tsang Khapa Losang Drakpa. New York: The American Institute of Buddhist Studies Columbia University Center for Buddhist Studies.
  • Tucci, G. (1980). The Religions of Tibet. Trans. Samuel, G. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  • Uçar, E. (2013). Uygurca Altun Yaruk Sudur IX. Tegzinç [金光明最勝王經卷第九] Diplomatik Neşir Usûlüyle Yayını, Tercüme, Açıklamalar ve Dizin. İzmir: Dinozor Kitabevi Yayınları.
  • Wilkens, J. (2021). Handwörterbuch des Altuigurischen, Altuigurisch-Deutsch-Türkisch. Göttingen: Universitätsverlag Göttingen.
  • Yakup, A. (2016). Altuigurische Aparimitāyus-Literatur und kleinere tantrische Texte. Berliner Turfantexte XXXVI. Turnhout (Belgium): Brepols Publishers. (→ BT XXXVI)

Tantrik Türk Budizmi’nde Cinsel Kucaklaşma Sembolü Yab Yum Üzerine

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 54 - 84, 01.01.2022
https://doi.org/10.35236/jots.1032251

Abstract

As a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, which emerged from Tibet in the VIIth century AD and spread to neighboring and distant geographies from Tibet, is a branch of Buddhism that aims to enlightenment through meditation and magic. It is also known as Tibetan Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism or Esoteric Buddhism, which aims to purify the person through various methods in the state of meditation with teaching techniques such as mantra, dhāraṇī, maṇḍala and mudrā. Tibetan Buddhism, which steered the tradition of XIVth century Central Asian Buddhism, visualized various rituals with both various depictions and painting and sculpture art, and especially reflected this sexual symbolism such as sexual intercourse and sexual embrace in the personality of female gods, female Buddhas, female Bodhisattvas and protective Deities (yidams). The Sexual Embrace, a product of Tantric Sex symbolism, is described by the Tibetan term yab yum. This term describes the embrace of Buddha-Mother and Buddha-Father as the primordial union of wisdom and compassion. Sexual Embrace, which is also seen in Buddhist Uyghurs, is understood by the use of the words ög qaŋ, ög t(ä)ŋri qızı, quč- and qučmaq in the descriptions in the texts of Berliner Turfantexte VII and Berliner Turfantexte XXXVI. Accordingly, in the first part of this study, which consists of two parts, the religious value of the Tibetan yab yum expression is shown in detail by including the opinions of various researchers, the appearance of the Tibetan yab yum form in Buddhist Uyghurs, which is theoretically informed, is discussed in the second part and responds to this sexual symbolism. The narrations are tried to be shown iconographically with pictures.

References

  • Beer, R. (1999). The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs. Boston: Shambhala Publications.
  • Bhattacharyya, B. (1958). The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on The Sādhanamālā and Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals. Calcutta: Mukhopadhyay.
  • Blofeld, J. (1992). The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet: A Practical Guide to the Theory, Purpose, and Techniques of Tantric Meditation. USA: Penguin Books.
  • Buswell, R. E. & Lopez, D. E. (2014). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Buswell, R. E. (2004). Encyclopedia of Buddhism I-II. Detroit: Thomsen Gale.
  • Donaldson, T. E. (2001). Iconograpy of The Buddhist Sculpture of Orissa I (Text). New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts Abhinav Publications.
  • Gendun Chopel (2018). The Passion Book: a Tibetan Guide to Love & Sex. Trans. Donald S. Lopez Jr. & Thupten, J. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
  • Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (1997).‎ Essence of Vajrayana: The Highest Yoga Tantra Practice of Heruka Body Mandala. New York: Tharpa Publications.
  • Getty, A. (1928). The Gods of Northern Buddhism. Their History, Iconography and Progressive Evolution Through the Northern Buddhist Countries. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  • Gordon-White, D. (2000). Tantra in Practice. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Gray, D. (2007). The Cakrasamvara Tantra (The Discourse of Sri Heruka): Śrīherukābhidhāna: A Study and Annotated Translation (Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences). USA: Wisdom Publications.
  • Heroldová, H. (2016). “Father and Mother”: Tantric Couples in the Collection of the Náprstek Museum and the History of the Collection Description. Annals of the Náprstek Museum, 37(1), 71-86.
  • Jones, K. H. (2003). The New Social Face of Buddhism: A Call to Action. USA: Wisdom Publications.
  • Jordan, M. (2004). Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  • Kara, G. & Zieme, P. (1976). Fragmente tantrischer Werke in uigurischer Übersetzung. Berliner Turfantexte VII. Berlin: Akademie Verlag. (→ BT VII)
  • Keown, D. (2003). Dictionary of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Lee, K. S. (2005). East and West: Fusion of Horizons. USA: Homa & Sekey Books.
  • Lessing, F. D. (2017). Moğolca-Türkçe Sözlük. Çev. Karaağaç, G. Ankara: Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları.
  • Müller, F. W. K (1928). Ein uigurisch-lamaistisches Zauberritual aus den Turfanfunden. Sitzungsberichte, der Preußischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Phil.-hist. Klasse (pp. 381-386). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
  • Neville, R. C. (1987). New metaphysics for eternal experience. Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 14, 357-370.
  • Odin, S. (1982). Process Metaphysics and Hua-Yen Buddhism: A Critical Study of Cumulative Penetration Vs. Interpenetration. USA: Suny Press.
  • Peng, J. (2013). An Exploration of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and its Art: A Potential Resource for Contemporary Spiritual and Art Practice. University College London, Slade School of Fine Art (Unpublished PhD Thesis).
  • Peng, J. et al. (2020). Yab-Yum Images: The Most Controversial form in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and its Art. International Journal of Management and Applied Science (IJMAS), 6(1), 52-56.
  • Porció, T. (2003). On the tecnique of translating Buddhist texts into Uygur. In Sven, B. & Wilkens, J. (Eds.). Indien und Zentralasien–Sprach- und Kulturkontakt (pp. 85-94). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag.
  • Porció, T. (2000). The One with the White Parasol, Four Sitātapatrā Texts in the Derge Kanjur and a Dunhuang Text (Pelliot Tibétain No. 45) with an Annotated English Translation of the Longest Canonical Version. Faculty of Arts of the University of Vienna. (Unpublished PhD Thesis).
  • Powers, J. (2009). Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. New York: Snow Lion.
  • Simmer-Brown, J. (2002). Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism. Boston: Shambhala.
  • Soothill, W. E. & Hodous, L. (1937). A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms with Sanskrit and English Equivalents and Sanskrit-Pali Index. London: Kegan Paul.
  • Sørensen, H. H. (2011). Central Divinities in the Esoteric Buddhist Pantheon in China. In Orzech, C. D. et al. (Eds.), Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia (pp. 90-132). Leiden-Boston: Brill.
  • Thurman, R. A. F. (2010). Brilliant Illumination of the Lamp of the Five Stages (Rim lnga rab tu gsa/ ba’i sgron me) Practical Instruction in the King of Tantras, The Glorious Esoteric Community by Tsang Khapa Losang Drakpa. New York: The American Institute of Buddhist Studies Columbia University Center for Buddhist Studies.
  • Tucci, G. (1980). The Religions of Tibet. Trans. Samuel, G. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  • Uçar, E. (2013). Uygurca Altun Yaruk Sudur IX. Tegzinç [金光明最勝王經卷第九] Diplomatik Neşir Usûlüyle Yayını, Tercüme, Açıklamalar ve Dizin. İzmir: Dinozor Kitabevi Yayınları.
  • Wilkens, J. (2021). Handwörterbuch des Altuigurischen, Altuigurisch-Deutsch-Türkisch. Göttingen: Universitätsverlag Göttingen.
  • Yakup, A. (2016). Altuigurische Aparimitāyus-Literatur und kleinere tantrische Texte. Berliner Turfantexte XXXVI. Turnhout (Belgium): Brepols Publishers. (→ BT XXXVI)
There are 34 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Linguistics
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Hasan İsi 0000-0001-7269-3596

Early Pub Date January 1, 2022
Publication Date January 1, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

APA İsi, H. (2022). Tantrik Türk Budizmi’nde Cinsel Kucaklaşma Sembolü Yab Yum Üzerine. Journal of Old Turkic Studies, 6(1), 54-84. https://doi.org/10.35236/jots.1032251