Butsugen Butsumo (Sanskrit: Buddhalocana) is a bodhisattva regarded as the mother of all Buddhas past, present, and future. She is depicted sitting on a lotus, wearing a white robe and lion-head crown. At the top is a poem written by Myoe (1173–1232). Myoe, who lost his parents when he was a boy, came to think of Butsugen Butsumo as a mother figure. At the age of 24, kneeling before an image of Butsugen Butsumo, he cut off part of his right ear in a display of devotion to Buddhist teachings.
Lion-head crown
Lotus
Myoe
Born in 1173 in present-day Yuasa, Aridagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Myoe rejuvenated the Huayan sect. After becoming a priest under Mongaku at Jingoji Temple. He studied Kegon Buddhism at Todaiji Temple and received the secret teachings from Konen at Kajuji Temple. He was awarded the land of Togano by Retired Emperor Gotoba in 1206 and built Kosanji Temple as the center of the Huayan sect. He died in 1232.
