A Happy New Year from far east / This year's Buddha

A Happy New Year from Japan! The year 2012 is DRAGON at the twelve zodiacal signs (below)

And this year's Buddha is FUGEN-BOSATSU (Samantabhadra). FUGEN-BOSATSU is one of Bodhisattva. FUGEN means perfectly wise person. FUGEN rides on White Elephant normally. According to Buddhism sutra, Fugen-Bosatsu relieves women from suffering. So Fugen is popular Bodhisttva among women. Generally, Fugen exists next to Shaka-Nyorai (Gautama Siddhartha).