Representasi Aksara Siddham sebagai Dewa-Dewi Buddha Pelindung dalam Zodiak Jepang

Abstract

Siddham script, the oldest writing system originating from India and used in Buddhism to represent sacred sounds, serves as the representation of the patron deities in the Japanese zodiac. Applying Stuart Hall's (1997) theory of representation, which posits the idea of language as a medium of meaning creation in culture, this article aims to explain how the Siddham script was adapted by the Japanese people to maintain the traditions of their ancestors in spiritual aspects especially in their zodiac calendar system. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach according to Abdussamad (2021) with a literature study method to analyze the symbolic relationship between Siddham script and Buddhist deities. The results from the tables and data presented by the researcher prove that the Siddham script, apart from being a religious communication tool, serves as a deeply rooted cultural symbol in Japanese society that serves to connect each individual with the spiritual patron deity of Buddhism according to his or her year of birth. This highlights the importance of the Siddham script in strengthening Japanese religious identity through symbolism and cultural meaning.

Keywords:  Buddhist deities; Japanese culture; representations; Siddham script; zodiacs.