This is a Bronze Black Buddha Statue in Nara the Ancient capital in Japan donated by the Koreans and completed in 749 almost 500 years before the birth of the True Buddha Nichiren Daishonin. It is no accident that the hair and skin color on this great icon is that of a Black person however this subject is feared and not talked about in Buddhist circles in America. Talk about this hair and you will get an earful. Many Japanese will lie to you about the Black Buddha.
In 749 in the Ancient capital in Nara Japan you will find the largest and the most Ancient Buddhist statue in Japan. This statue was built by the Koreans who were paying honor to the Japanese who ruled them. The Koreans built this Buddha Statue and this statue is that of a Black Buddha. It is no question about the ethnicity of this Ancient Buddha in Nara Japan his hair proves this. It is incredulous to many to learn that once there were Ancient kingdoms ruled by African people. It is evident and clear by archeological evidence that the 1st recorded Buddha Shakyamuni was a man of African decent and ancient icons prove this point. It is amazing that Black people look at this with disbelief and ask me to ask a Priest if Shakyamuni Buddha was Black and Black people in Buddhism see this clear-cut evidence and let a Priest off the hook in this regard it does not take a rocket scientist to look at the historical facts and realize that there was a Black Buddhist past. Just look at the hair on the ancient statues and your question is answered.
The movie "Good Hair" allows an opportunity to bring this issue up because over the centuries the issue of Shakyamuni's hair have been a bone of contention and an embarrassment. Just try to discuss this historical fact with any Japanese including a Priest and many will deny this historical evidence or avoid this subject. This should not be denied even if it is by a Nichiren Shoshu Priest. The issue of "Good Hair" is indeed not only a Buddhist issue but the issue of "Good Hair" is an issue of human nature and respect of other cultures and people.
Buddhas 1 and 2 are Javanese Buddhas with wolly hair cap design and 3. Greek Buddha with Frizzy hair
1. African head from Acient Egypt showing wool hair like that of Buddhas 2. Chinese Buddha 3. Japanse Buddha 4. Indian Buddha 5. Javanese Buddha 6. Siamese 7. Indian Buddha What is important to understand that early images of the Buddha was that with African hair and later as the images evolved it grew into an image of a cap.
Please hang with me with this Buddhist lecture and we will get more into the depts of the movie "Good Hair." The issue of Black hair goes thousands of years into history and reach us at home and we who are Buddhist. Bring up true history of Shakyamuni being a Black man with Black hair and you are getting into a fight although the icons prove this fact. It is prejudice that does not allow other races to accept this historical fact.
Modern Massai Man in Kenya
Buddha 10th Century Bronze
Past Buddhas of Different Cultures
There is an International Buddhist organization called the SGI that I was once a part of this religious organization. The leader of this organization is Daisaku Ikeda who wrote in his books that the "Buddha was an Aryan" many African/Americans view this leader as a "Living Buddha" and historical facts disagree with this idea and Black people are afraid to challege him on this issue. In the world there is institutional racism that allows such erroneous information to prevail. The era of Black Kingdoms go so far back in history that we have forgotten such times as in Egypt.
