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Buddhas in the West Material Archive
@buddhasinthewest.bsky.social
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Exploring the circulation of Buddhist material culture in Western historical media, including prints, photos, ephemera, &c. Digital public scholarship project curated by @peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social.
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In the 17th century, to uncover suspected Christians, Japanese authorities in Nagasaki forced commoners to step on an image of Jesus or Mary.

As knowledge of this practice spread to Europe, depictions of "treading on the crucifix," appeared in illustrated works by the 18th century. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan
The image depicts an intricate engraving, framed with decorative borders featuring vertical decorative leaf patterns on either side. At the top, there is an illustration of a small, domed structure with light rays emanating upwards, containing an image of a seated buddha with horns. Below, within an interior setting, several figures dressed in traditional robes are seen. They are centered around small, flat objects that resemble a crucifix and statue of the Virgin Mary. Some figures appear solemn, while one man approaches the object on the floor, prepared to step on them. A child is also helped to stand, ready to step on the objects. In the room, there is a window with bars on the left wall and a scroll or painting hanging on the right wall. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
November 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
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In the 17th century, to uncover suspected Christians, Japanese authorities in Nagasaki forced commoners to step on an image of Jesus or Mary.

As knowledge of this practice spread to Europe, depictions of "treading on the crucifix," appeared in illustrated works by the 18th century. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan
The image depicts an intricate engraving, framed with decorative borders featuring vertical decorative leaf patterns on either side. At the top, there is an illustration of a small, domed structure with light rays emanating upwards, containing an image of a seated buddha with horns. Below, within an interior setting, several figures dressed in traditional robes are seen. They are centered around small, flat objects that resemble a crucifix and statue of the Virgin Mary. Some figures appear solemn, while one man approaches the object on the floor, prepared to step on them. A child is also helped to stand, ready to step on the objects. In the room, there is a window with bars on the left wall and a scroll or painting hanging on the right wall. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
November 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Buddhas in the West Material Archive
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The first photos of Saigon, present-day Ho Chi Minh City, were taken by French naval officers during the 1858 French invasion.

The first commercial photography studios in Vietnam opened in Saigon soon afterwards, with some producing intimate views of local Buddhist temple life. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Vietnam
The image is a vintage postcard featuring a statue of a seated icon, placed on a wooden stand. The statue depicts a smiling figure in a robe, with its hands holding open his chest to reveal a face. Flanking the statue are two young novice monks in dark robes, standing on either side with hands held in prayer. A visible red postage stamp and markings are at the top right corner of the image, the cancellation date of 1911 is barely visible. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
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The first photos of Saigon, present-day Ho Chi Minh City, were taken by French naval officers during the 1858 French invasion.

The first commercial photography studios in Vietnam opened in Saigon soon afterwards, with some producing intimate views of local Buddhist temple life. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Vietnam
The image is a vintage postcard featuring a statue of a seated icon, placed on a wooden stand. The statue depicts a smiling figure in a robe, with its hands holding open his chest to reveal a face. Flanking the statue are two young novice monks in dark robes, standing on either side with hands held in prayer. A visible red postage stamp and markings are at the top right corner of the image, the cancellation date of 1911 is barely visible. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 29, 2025 at 3:52 PM
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The Golden Age of Hollywood expanded the theatrical tradition of set design to create a more immersive world on screen.

Through the 1920s studio art directors built bigger sets and fine Buddhist statuary that was once purchased or borrowed was increasingly made of wood and plaster. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Hollywood
The image is a vintage black-and-white photograph showing a man sitting on the base of a large, white, plaster sculpture of a sitting buddha. The man, sitting casually with his elbows on his knees, is wearing a dark three-piece suit and is holding a hat in his hand. The sculpture is partially completed and constructed with a framework of wooden beams and supports. The buddha's face is serene and mirrors closely East Asian Buddhist art. The setting appears to be an outdoor construction area in the backlot of Universal. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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By the turn of the 20th century advertising cards were sought-after collectables, often pasted alongside other printed ephemera inside scrap books.

The main visual language was the stereotype, and places like Japan were depicted as a mélange of mystery, pagodas, and odd idols. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #France #Japan
The image is a vintage lithographed trade card by Chocolat Guérin-Boutron. It is divided into two main sections. On the left, a group of people dressed in traditional East Asian attire gathers around a small puppet stage, showing a scene with a puppeteer. The crowd includes men, women, including a fan-weilding geisha, and children, all in colorful garments . To the right, within an oval frame, is a depiction of a two-story Japanese pagoda with intricate woodword details, surrounded by an orange-hued sky. A large decorative lantern with vivid colors hangs near the top right and a seated buddha-like figure sits at the bottom right. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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Tibetan ritual cham dances were often called "Devil Dances" by Western scholars and travelers through the turn of the 20th century.

Dressed in the ceremonial regalia of masked dance, performing monks became a popular visual motif for representing Tibetan Buddhism. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Tibet
The image is a black and white photographic postcard of six individuals dressed in elaborate, ceremonial costumes. Each person is wearing a distinct mask with animal and demonic features. On the far left, a figure wears a cloak and a bird mask with horns, holding a Tibetan-style trumpet. Next, a seated person dons a mask resembling a deer with large antlers. Beside them stands another individual holding a Tibetan-style trumpet. The central figure is seated, wearing a large, black hat with figuring attached to the brim. To their right stands a person with a skeleton-like costume, featuring a skull mask and rib-like decorations. The last figure on the right has a Mahakala demon-like mask, holding cymbals. The figures are posed in a natural outdoor setting. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 22, 2025 at 7:18 PM
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The earliest stereo photographs of Japan were taken in 1859, but it was not until the late 1890s when publishers started to take a genuine commercial interest in the country.
In 1901 Benjamin Kilburn released a beautiful series of views of Japan where Buddhism played a minor role. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan
The image is a stereograph showing two nearly identical sepia-toned photographs placed side by side. Each photograph depicts two individuals dressed in traditional Japanese attire, including wide-brimmed hats and layered garments, standing and sitting next to each other. The individuals are positioned outdoors, with a building partially visible in the background. The setting is lush with foliage, including trees and shrubs. The clothing and scenery suggest a historical context, likely from the late 19th to early 20th century. The photographs are bordered by a pinkish-toned frame with printed text. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 20, 2025 at 3:55 PM
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Two figures seen here in the shadows emerged in the 1920s and 30s as part of the cinematic shorthand for American Chinatowns.

One, the murderous hatchet man, can be seen in the back alley, while other is seen peering out the curio shop window: an icon of a buddha. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Chinatown
The image depicts a black-and-white lobby card showing a group of people gathered on a dimly lit sidewalk outside a Chinese shop. The building to the right has a sign above the door saying “Art Objects”, and various items are visible through the windows, including an outline of a sitting Buddha statue. Several men, dressed in vintage police uniforms and traditional Chinese attire, are attending to two men wrestling on the ground. A vintage-style car is parked to the left, partially obscured by the group. Shadows are cast on the ground and the wall, indicating a light source from the left. The scene conveys a sense of urgency or concern, captured in a cinematic style. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 17, 2025 at 6:28 PM
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Identified as a “Buddhist High Priest” and shown holding an open book, the caption and image both suggest a highly learned Sinhalese monk.

Although anonymous, we can identify him as one of the pioneers of the Buddhist revivalist movement in the 19th century, Hikkaduwe Sumangala. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #SriLanka
The image depicts a black-and-white, historical portrait of a man wearing wire-rimmed glasses and draped in a traditional robe, likely indicative of a Buddhist monk. He is seated and appears to be reading while holding an open book in his hands. The robe is intricately wrapped around his shoulders, creating gentle folds. The background is dark and plain, providing contrast to highlight the figure. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
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The Ling Long Chinese Museum in Chicago opened prior to the 1934 World's Fair hoping to draw visitors and help erase the popular view that US Chinatowns were "immoral and dangerous."

The museum housed a large altar in the rear of the main arcade to enshrine an icon of Guanyin. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Chicago
The image depicts a colorful interior scene from the Ling Long Chinese Museum, specifically the so-called “Temple of Kung Yin” [sic]. It showcases a seated image of Guanyin on a lotus pedestal. The image is centrally positioned and surrounded by intricate ornamental pillars and panels featuring decorative patterns and red and yellow Chinese text. Two lion statues flank the pedestal, contributing to the symmetrical composition. The background includes a richly decorated wall with intricate artwork. The floor consists of multicolored tiles, adding texture to the scene. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
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The Taiyū-in Shrine, in Nikko, is the final resting place of shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu, one of the "Great Unifiers" of Japan.

The compound is punctuated by several ornate gate houses, including the one here known as Yashamon for the Buddhist guardian figures protecting it. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan #夜叉門
The image depicts a traditional Japanese structure known as the Yashamon gate at the Nikko Buddest Temple. The architecture features an intricately designed gate with a large, curved, sloping roof adorned with ornate wooden carvings and colorful patterns in gold, red, blue, and green. The gate is flanked by two columns, each with a statue placed inside a niche. The entrance has a pair of elaborately decorated doors, closed shut. In the background, lush greenery and trees surround the temple area, providing a serene natural setting. There are additional smaller structures visible on either side of the gate, creating a harmonious architectural ensemble. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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Nōfuku-ji, a Buddhist temple in the port city of Kobe, Japan, was reportedly founded by the monk Saichō in 805.

A thousand years later, the colossal Hyōgo Daibutsu was built on temple grounds in 1891, but the statue did not survive beyond World War II. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan
The image depicts a colossal statue of Vairocana Buddha sitting in a meditative pose, with detailed curls on the head and serene facial features. The statue is positioned on a pedestal and surrounded by rocks and foliage. To the left of the Buddha, there is an ornate vertical column topped with a golden ornament. A red postage stamp is affixed to the upper left corner. The sky is a gradient of soft blue and orange hues, colored by hand. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 8, 2025 at 2:33 PM
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Writing in 1790, William Hurd noted the icons of Ceylon were "fantastic and monstrous," while one, "formed like a giant," was called "Buddu."

The accompanying engraving of the Buddha shows a curious bearded figure with a tall crown and sword held aloft in his right hand.🧵
🗃️ 📜 #SriLanka
The image is a detailed engraving showing a religious ceremony. Central to the scene is a statue of a deity, depicted standing on a raised platform. The statue is adorned with a crown and holds a sword in its right hand. Surrounding the platform, a group of people are engaged in worship, gesturing and offering items towards the statue. On the left side, a person kneels, extending an offering. The setting appears to be an ornate room with religious imagery and weaponry on the walls. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 6, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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Located in the mountains of Yunnan, China, the Qiongzhu Temple houses a collection of fantastic Buddhist statues.

This Thousand-Armed Guanyin icon is surrounded by over 200 arhat disciples, comprising part of a Five Hundred Arhat image collection over a century old. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Sinology #筇竹寺
The image shows a black and white photograph of a Guanyin statue with multiple arms, centrally placed within a room. The statue is elaborate, with several radiating arms each holding different objects. It stands on a pedestal in front of an intricate backdrop that appears to include swirling cloud-like patterns. Surrounding the central figure are smaller statues or carvings located on two tiers of platforms resembling a theater or gallery setting. The upper tier seems to contain seated figures in rows, while the lower level hosts standing figures clothed in traditional attire. The room appears to be part of a temple or monastery, characterized by wood and stone structures. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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Following the success of colonial pavilions at World’s Fairs, France initiated its own independent Colonial Expositions in the 1890s.

In Marseilles in 1906, famous architectural sites from French Indochina were reconstructed, including a towering Buddhist pagoda representing Annam.🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Vietnam
The image shows a vintage illustration of a traditional East Asian-style pagoda and temple set within a lush landscape. The pagoda has a tall, multi-tiered design with each tier featuring a set of round windows. The main structure is adorned with ornate roof edges that curve upward. Surrounding the building are leafy green trees, adding to the serene setting. In the foreground, several people in European dress are walking on a dirt path, giving a sense of scale and liveliness to the scene. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
October 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
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An astounding 400,000 hand-colored photographic prints were used for all editions of Francis Brinkley’s Japan: Described and Illustrated by the Japanese.

Produced in Boston between 1897 and 1898, this work was the pinnacle of photographic book publishing at the turn of the century. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan
The image features a large, serene statue of Amida Buddha seated in a meditative pose on a stone platform; the icon is known as the Kamakura Daibutsu. The statue’s body is painted an aged blue-gray color . Three men sit or stand in the lap of the statue. On both sides of the statue, ornamental stone lanterns rise, matching the platform in color and material. The background reveals a lush setting with tall trees extending into the clear sky, contributing to the tranquil atmosphere. The ground consists of stone pathways leading up to the platform. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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Advances in chromolithography in the 1870s and 80s helped flood America and Europe with inexpensive, colorful imagery.

This had the greatest impact in advertising with the introduction of trade cards, often bearing humorous or provocative images to elicit consumer interest. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #France
The image shows an illustrated advertising trade card depicting three people and a buddha-like statue. Three individuals in colorful robes are positioned on the left. They are clustered closely together and appear to pull on a rope to either move or topple a pedestal upon which the statue sits. The statue depicts a seated figure with crossed legs, almost in a Buddhist “royal pose.” The statue’s right hand points upward, while the left appears to hold a scroll. The background is a light textured green. Above the illustration, the text "MOREAU- GOUFFIER AUXERRE" is printed. A caption is printed below. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
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In 1900, traveling to Darjeeling meant gazing upon the grandeur of the snow-capped Himalayas and imagining the inaccessible lands that lay beyond them in Tibet.

Visiting Darjeeling at this time also meant having the rare opportunity to encounter and observe real Tibetan lamas.🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Tibet
The image show a photograph printed on a postcard depicting a group of seven men dressed in Tibetan Buddhist robes. Three sit in front of the four others who are standing. One man sitting is reading a ritual text, while the other two are holding ritual implements including mala beads, a prayer wheel, a vajra, and bell. The background shows large window panes and a section with crisscross patterns. The texture of the photograph evokes a vintage feel. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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The Kotte Rajamaha Vihara was founded in the 15th century under royal patronage to house a sacred tooth relic of the Buddha.

At the time, some considered this the holiest site in Sri Lanka, greater than Aśoka’s Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura and the Buddha’s footprint on Adam’s Peak. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #SriLanka
The image is a stereoscopic photograph featuring a series of identical Buddha statues inside a temple. The statues are arranged in a line, each standing upright on pedestals. They are intricately carved with vertical lines adding texture to their robes. The background shows decorative arches and columns, suggesting a detailed architectural setting. The photograph is in black and white and is presented on a card, typical of historical imagery. This card includes handwritten-like text on either side and descriptive text below the images. The perspective and alignment create a sense of depth, emphasizing the repetition of statues. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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This photo casts a rather uncanny site with unnaturally bright side lighting, awkwardly wooden human figures, and a very odd Buddhist icon.

This is not a real Chinese Buddhist temple, but a movie set designed for a famous 1929 Paramount film. 🧵
🗃️ 📜
The image depicts an ornate interior space with two individuals kneeling in front of a large, and oddly crafted, statue of the Buddha. The icon, situated inside a decorative frame, is seated in a lotus position on an intricately designed lotus pedestal. The figure is set against a backdrop featuring a draped cloth with a dragon design. Surrounding the scene are detailed architectural elements, including lattice-like patterns and decorative curtains. The room is richly decorated, with a patterned rug on the floor and various furnishings visible on the left side. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
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Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in Myanmar, thought to enshrine eight hair strands of the Buddha.

Philip Klier's photo, taken in the 1880s, shows the activities of both monks and merchants on the main platform in front of the pagoda. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Myanmar
The image depicts a historical scene in front of the Shwedagon Pagoda, showcasing intricate architecture typical of Burmese design. The building on the edge of the platform feature several layers of ornate, pointed roofs with intricate carvings and decorations. Several tall spires rise above the structure, adding to its grandeur. In the foreground, a few people are present, engaged in various activities. On the left, a monk is seated on the ground with alms bowl, while two others face towards the camers. There are tables with umbrellas suggesting market stands or resting areas, surrounded by architectural structures and tall trees on the right. The image is in monochrome, providing a vintage appearance. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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During the Golden Age of American amusement parks, New York’s Coney Island was king, sporting the trifecta of the Steeplechase, Dreamland, and Luna Park.

Opening in May 1904, Dreamland advertised a "faithful reproduction of a Japanese temple," attempting to pull customers away from rivals.🧵
🗃️ 📜
The image is a vintage postcard with a black background featuring large white block letters spelling out "CONEY ISLAND" in the center. Each letter contains various small, colorful images of attractions or scenes from Coney Island, giving a nostalgic and vibrant feel. Above these letters, in smaller text, is "GREETINGS from" in white. To the right of the word "CONEY," there's a red U.S. postage stamp bearing the profile of George Washington and marked "2 CENTS." Below "ISLAND," the letters "N.Y." are printed in white at the bottom right corner. The overall design presents a classic, eye-catching composition typical of early 20th-century American postcards. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
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This Jizō statue stood on the banks of Lake Ashi in Hakone for 150 years when Felice Beato took this photo in the 1860s.

Within a decade, the lakeside statue would be vandalized, sold, and removed in the aftermath of the Buddhist persecution during the early Meiji era. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan
The image depicts a serene lakeside scene with a large statue of the seated Bodisattva Jizō in the center. The statue rests on an ornate lotus base and has an elaborate circular halo behind it. Flanking the statue on both sides are smaller, intricately carved stone lanterns. Two small Jizō statue are visible on the right. In the foreground, two people are standing near the statue, one appearing holding their hands together in prayer. The background features a calm lake, bordered by hills covered with dense foliage, under a soft, overcast sky. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
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Nipponophone was an early Japanese record company which released the first domestically-produced phonograph to commercial success in 1910.

The company’s president, American Frederick Horn, adopted a large sitting Buddha for advertising, but with a subtle homage to another US brand.🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Japan
The image depicts a vintage-style illustration on a textured brown background. On the left side, there is a blue phonograph with a large horn speaker, sitting on a speckled red table top. The company name Nipponophone ニッポノホン is spelled out in Japanese. Several white mice are shown in motion, seemingly attracted to the phonograph sound, with their tails curving and adding a sense of movement. The right side features a Buddha-like figure rising from his cross-legged posture, shrouded in a flowing robe, with a serene expression. Behind the figure, a faint silhouette of the same figure sitting still . Above the figures, several ceremonial decorations hang from the top edge, and a bundle of elongated elements, possibly tassels or traditional embellishments, is present. The composition combines cultural and whimsical elements. Sort available posts on Bluesky using #Buddhasinthewest | All posts archived here: tinyurl.com/4kmcwp87 🔍 🗃️ 📜
September 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM