From Bactrian Demetrios to Japanese Gobujo: myth, art, and language
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Sino-Platonic Papers is pleased to announce the publication of its three-hundred-and-sixty-eighth issue:
“Demetrios of Bactria as Deva Gobujo and Other Indo-Greek Myths of Japan,” by Lucas Christopoulos.
ABSTRACT
A particular Buddhist divinity named Gobujo is represented in several Buddhist temples in Japan dating from the eighth century on. Originating in Nara, its distinctive representation remained constant through the centuries in other temples in Japan, characterized by his wearing plate armor like that of Tang dynasty Chinese and Tocharian portrayals, holding a Japanese katana broadsword in his right hand, and having an elephant head positioned on his head. Chapters 1–3 of this article trace the way in which the divinity was created from the image and cult of Demetrios of Bactria, following his conquest of India and because of his support for the Buddhists of India, together with the transmission of his fame through the ages in the Buddhist sutras. In chapter 4, we will also investigate other related myths, cults, and customs in Japan, especially Buddhist theatrical plays, which also originated with the Indo-Greeks and traveled all the way through the Tarim Basin and China before reaching the archipelago at the easternmost point of the Silk Road — that is, Kyushu and Nara.
Lavishly illustrated with rare works of art.
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All issues of Sino-Platonic Papers are available in full for no charge.
To view our catalog, visit http://www.sino-platonic.org/
Selected readings
- "The sound of ancient Iranian languages" (10/26/23)
- "A Greco-Bactrian Great Wall in Central Asia" (1/24/25)
- "Kushan inscriptions from Western and Southern Central Asia (WCA, SCA)" (7/21/23)
- "So spoke Zoroaster: camels and ancient Sinitic reconstructions" (1/13/21)
- "Greco-Sinitic ψάμμος / ʃˠa mɑk̚ ('desert')" (6/8/23)
- "Hellenism in East Asia" (12/3/22)
- "Palestra: wrestling of the mind" (11/19/22)
- "Indo-Greeks: the importance of archeology for historical linguistics, part 4" (10/16/22)
Tom said,
September 19, 2025 @ 8:19 pm
Thank you. This looks fascinating, and I'm going to enjoy reading it later this afternoon. Next time I travel down to Nara, I'll have new things to check out as well. Great!!
Robot Therapist said,
September 21, 2025 @ 3:20 am
Yes, fascinating!
Scott P. said,
September 21, 2025 @ 5:32 pm
Interesting article. Unfortunately, I find no evidence offered in the article to support the idea that Demetrios I became the object of Buddhist worship in India, let alone that that worship made its way to China and then Japan.
AG said,
September 25, 2025 @ 3:56 am
The article is on a fascinating topic. However, it quickly dissolves into a series of comparisons and assumptions that are very hard to take seriously, in part because of the scattershot nature of their presentation, in part because they make astonishing claims – including that core elements of Japanese mythology, drama, and music were all Greek (!).
A typical and yet memorable example of this is when a story involving the goddess Ame-no-Uzume-nomikoto exposing her private parts is claimed to self-evidently correspond to a ritual of the Eleusinian Mysteries.
It's very difficult for me to accept without extraordinary proof that two separate instances of humans exposing their private parts required the transmission of an idea from one side of the globe to the other. I rather suspect that the concept may have arisen independently.
Lucas Christopoulos said,
October 26, 2025 @ 7:32 pm
The claim that there is “no evidence” is inaccurate, as the article presents substantial supporting material. It demonstrates that core elements of Japanese mythology, drama, and music appear to have origins in Greek traditions.
This idea may be difficult to accept due to certain conceptual boundaries or assumptions about cultural isolation. However, cultural adoption and adaptation are common phenomena. For instance, airplanes, automobiles, and even Japanese rock music are all integral parts of Japanese culture today, despite not originating in Japan. They have developed distinct local characteristics while retaining traces of their external origins.
Similarly, the parallels with the Eleusinian Mysteries are not limited to a single aspect but extend across approximately six significant points: the cave setting, the motif of darkness, the theme of nature’s resurrection, the symbolic exposure of private parts, the presence of comedic elements, and the performance of ritual acts. These correspondences suggest a more complex cultural relationship than mere coincidence.