Deer in Buddhism

Buddhist monk with dear at Todaiji temple

Japan, the land of the rising sun, has a vast diversity of Buddhist temples. If you are looking for the origin of Buddhism, head to Nara. In the beginning of the 8th century Nara became the capital and emperor Shomu wanted to propagate the newly accepted Buddhism that was introduced in Japan through the Korean kingdom of Paekche. He built the enormous Todaiji temple, still the biggest wooden building in the world until 1998.

Todaiji temple Nara

Walking around the premises of this majestic building you will notice a big lush green park at the main entrance. A happy mixture of sellers, schoolchildren, begging monks and tourists are rejoined by a whole lot of deers roaming though Nara Park.
The Sika deer is a real symbol of Nara; deer senbei (hard cookies) and deer hats are sold, while in October the Deer Horn cutting festival takes place.

Children playing with deer in Nara

Feeding the deer in Nara

The deer in Nara are an amazing site that will always delight tourists and the Japanese schoolchildren. The tame deer can be also be found on Itsukushima island near Hiroshima. The sika deer is native to Japan and can still appears in the wild in remote places like Yakushima in southern Japan.

But why are the deers found in parks close to Buddhist temples and not in any other public park? According the the legend of Buddha after his enlightenment Buddha developed his Dharma or teaching. The first sermon of Buddha happened to be in Sarnath "Deer park" where the deer wandered in peace. And so they became witnesses of his first teaching. In Buddhist iconography the deer stands as a messenger of Buddha and Buddhism. That's why the deer are found in Japan in temple parks.

In the pictures you can find different deer symbols at other Buddhist places in Asia.

Deer in Itsukushima

Deer witnessing the first sermon of Buddha

Deer at the throne of Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Deer on top and on the banners of Tibetan temple in Zhongdian, China