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IN or INZO or KAKUNIN-IN (Japanese)
Hand Gestures of the Nyorai (Buddha, Tathagata)
Sanskrit = MUDRA (means "seal" or "sign")
ORIGIN = India
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Common Mudras in Japan
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 In Buddhist sculpture and painting, the Buddha (Nyorai, Tathagata) are generally depicted with a characteristic hand gesture, or mudra. Mudras are used primarily to indicate the nature and function of the deity. They are also used routinely by current-day monks in their spiritual exercises and worship. Knowledge of these hand gestures can help greatly in identifying the various deities, but not always, for there is much overlap and variation among the mudra.
The most widely known mudra are those associated with the Five Great Tathagata of Wisdom. The five are eminations of Buddha nature. They embody five fundamental wisdoms -- wisdom against anger, envy, desire, ignorance, and pride -- to help us break free from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara, or freedom from suffering). Each of the five has a specific mudra that corresponds to one of the five defining episodes in the life of the Historical Buddha (see chart below for defining moments). Each of the five is also associated with a direction (north, south, east, west, center/zenith). In Japan, only two of these five Buddha are still widely reverred. See Nyorai for list of widely known Japanese Buddha.
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Semui-in
Associated with Fukujoju Nyorai and Shaka Nyorai
Converts jealousy and envy into all accomplish-ing wisdom
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Abhaya
"Fear Not"
Associated with Amoghasiddhi
Wisdom required by karma for its completion.
North
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 Gesture of fearlessness and the granting of protection; right hand lifted above right thigh with palm facing out, fingers pointing up; said to be the gesture of Shaka Nyorai (historical Buddha) immediately after attaining enlightenment; this mudra is often used in combination with the Varada Mudra (see below).
This mudra is also associated with Amoghasiddhi (Fukujoju Nyorai), one of the Five Buddha of Wisdom. Amoghasiddhi means "inevitable success." The episode relates to the historical Buddha who, while in deep meditation in human form, was protected for seven days from stormy rain and wind by Mucilinda, the seven-headed serpent king who spread his heads above the Buddha. Mucilinda is one of the Naga, a grouping of powerful serpent beings, including the dragon, who converted to Buddhism after listening to the teachings of Shaka Nyorai; in Japan, the Naga are members of the Hachi-bushu (Eight Legions).
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Yogan-in
Associated with Hosho Nyorai, Kasho Butsu, and Shaka Nyorai
Chinese: Baosheng Fo
Converts pride, greed and envy into the wisdom of equanimity
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Varada
To welcome or make offering; Charity or Blessing Mudra
Wisdom of Essential Similarity
South
Source of Secret Things
The One who manages the Treasures
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 Primarily represents the granting of wishes to those who welcome the teachings of Buddhism; right hand points downward, with palm facing outward; left hand often used instead when combined with Abhaya Mudra (see above); associated mostly with statues of the Standing Buddha.
When Shaka Nyorai is shown with this mudra, it symbolizes the summoning of heaven to witness Shaka's enlightenment; this mudra also used in artwork of Hosho Nyorai (Ratnasambhava), one of the Five Buddha of Wisdom; in a variant, thumb and index finger of hand touch each another.
Corresponds to Kassapa or Kasho-butsu (Kasyapa), the 3rd Buddha of the Past (after Kakusandha and Konagamana). Kassapa was the Historical Buddha's immediate predecessor.
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Goma-in
Sokuji-in
Associated with Ashuku Nyorai
Achu in
China
Converts anger and aggression into mirror-like wisdom
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Bhumisparsha
Earth as Witness
Mirror-like Wisdom
Associated with Akshobhya, one of the Five Buddha of Wisdom
East
He who subjugates demonic passions and manifests the pure spirit of wakefulness
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 Literally "touching the earth;" associated with Shaka Nyorai, who touches ground to "call the earth to witness" his victory over temptation during his battle with Mara (the Evil One); made using both hands, with right hand hanging over right knee, palm inward, with finger(s) touching earth, while left hand positioned on lap with palm up; associated with Ashuku Nyorai (Akshobhya), one of the Five Buddha of Wisdom.
 Sometimes the left hand holds a begging bowl; one of the most common mudra among Seated Buddha in Asia; not so common in Japan however.
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Hokaijyo-in
Zenjyo-in
Converts
ignorance
and
bewilder-
ment into the wisdom of primordial awareness
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Dharmachakra
Preaching & Teaching
Turning the Wheel of Law; metaphor for teaching the way of enlightenment
Wisdom of Universal Lawfulness
Center/Zenith
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 In Japan, mostly Shaka, Dainichi, and Senju Kannon are shown with this mudra; this gesture was used by Shaka Nyorai when preaching his first sermon; it refers especially to the teaching of the Dharma (law).
Made by placing both hands in front of the chest, with left palm facing inward and covering the right hand; the index finger and thumb of each hand touch to form a circle.
Outside Japan, this mudra is mostly associated with Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana or Mahavairocana), one of the Five Buddha of Wisdom. See "Six Element Mudra" below for more.
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Jo-in
Amida Jo-in
Mostly associated with Amida Nyorai
Depicts Amida Nyorai in meditation
Converts desire, lust and passion into the wisdom of discrimi-
nating awareness
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Dhyana
Meditation Mudra
Also called the Yoga Mudra
One of the Five Buddha of Wisdom
Wisdom of Distinction
West
One whose splendour is Immeasurable
Buddha of
the Afterlife
Buddha of the Western Paradise
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Formed by placing the right hand over the palm of the left hand, with tips of both thumbs touching lightly; hands rest in lap, palms up; right hand represents enlightenment; left hand represents world of appearance (illusions); this mudra symbolizes the triumph of enlightenment over the world of illusions; in a variant, the middle, ring, and little fingers of both hands lie on top of one another, with the thumbs and index finger of both hands touching each other, forming a circle.
 This mudra corresponds to the meditation of the historical Buddha under the sacred Bodhi tree, although there are several variations with different finger positions.
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Raigo-in
Often associated with Amida Nyorai
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Vitarka
Reasoning Mudra
Teaching Mudra
Discussion Mudra
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 Closely related to the Dharmachakra mudra; right hand points upward, left downward; both palms turned outward, with the thumb and index finger on each hand forming a circle; right hand at shoulder level, left hand at hip level.
In a variant, left hand rests palm upward in lap, with right hand raised to shoulder level with thumb and index finger forming circle; in another variant, the index finger and little fingers on both hands are extended, but the middle and ring fingers are curved inward slightly, with left hand pointing up and right hand pointing down.
Variations
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Chiken-in
Associated with Dainichi Nyorai
Converts
ignorance
and
bewilder-
ment into the wisdom of primordial awareness
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Vajra
Supreme Wisdom
Mudra of
Six Elements
Fist of Wisdom
One of the Five Buddha of Wisdom
Buddha of the
Zenith (Center)
Embodies Omniscience and Wisdom of Universal Lawfulness
In Sanskrit, Dainichi is known as
Vairocana or Maha-
vairocana
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 Characteristic gesture of Dainichi Nyorai in Japan and Korea; outside Japan, Dainichi Nyorai is typically represented with the teaching (preaching) gesture, the Dharmacakra mudra, for Dainichi corresponds to the historical Buddha's first turning of the Wheel of the Law at Deer Park in Sarnath (India), where Shaka Nyorai gave his first sermon after reaching enlightenment; Dainichi is also sometimes shown holding a medicine jar in the left hand while the right hand forms the Abhaya or Varada mudra.
 In the Vajra mudra, the index finger of the left hand is clasped by the five fingers of the right; this is also known as the "six elements mudra," or the "fist of wisdom" mudra, for it symbolizes the unity of the five worldly elements (earth, water, fire, air, and metal) with spiritual consciousness. In Japan, Dainichi Nyorai is especially important to adherents of Esoteric Buddhism (Shingon).
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Gassho
Pressing one's hands together in prayer.
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Anjali
Namaskara
Namaskra
Namaste
IN CHINA
Mudra of
Kwan Yin (Kannon) and Yama
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 Mudra of Greeting, Respect, Veneration; palms held together at chest level (resembles Western image of praying hands); signifies respect, submission, and veneration, and therefore not found on statues of the Buddha (Nyorai).
 Common gesture used even today by Japanese worshippers to show respect to shrine and temple deities; also the customary gesture of greeting in India
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Setsubo-in
Tenborin-in
Mostly seen with Shaka Nyorai and Amida Nyorai
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PENDING
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Under development
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Pending
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Uttarabodhi
Mudra of Supreme Enlightenment
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 Hands held at chest level; index fingers on both hands are raised, touching each other; remaining fingers are crossed and folded down; thumbs are crossed and folded or are touching each other at tips; outside Japan, this mudra appears sometimes with images of Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana).
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Japanese
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Sanskrit
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Description & Photo
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Pending
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Vajrapradama
Mudra of Unshakable Confidence
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 The fingertips of the hands are crossed, representing unshakable confidence.
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MORE EXAMPLES
Only the following mudras are used routinely in Theravada Buddhism:
- Gesture to assuage fear (Abhaya Mudra)
- Gesture of welcome or to make offering (Varada mudra)
- Gesture of preaching the Dharma (Dharmacakra mudra)
- Gesture of reasoning (Vitarka mudra)
- Gesture of meditation (Samadhi mudra)
- Gesture of calling earth to witness (Bumiparsa mudra)
NOTEBOOK (study notes):
- Shaka Nyorai's left hand is sometimes held with the palm upwards and the fingers outstretched (except the middle two, which may be curled in slightly to beckon people toward salvation).
- Yakushi Nyorai usually holds a medicine pot in his left hand.
- Amida Nyorai's left hand is shown with an inverted "okay" gesture, with the thumb and index finger forming a circle.
- Miroku Nyorai's left hand is usually pointing down.
Five Buddha Families, Five Major Energies, Five Wisdoms
Five Great Buddha of Wisdom
The Five Buddha of Meditation, The Five Jina, The Five Tathagatas
Wisdom against anger, envy, desire, ignorance, and pride
- Vajra (Diamond) Family. Converts anger and aggression into mirror-like wisdom; main Buddha figure is Ashuku Nyorai (Akshobhya); East; Blue; represents deep awareness of the sphere of reality; also represents mind (blue, center), space, and body consciousness
- Karma Family. Converts jealousy and envy into all-accomplishing wisdom; the wisdom required by karma for its completion; this family is represented by the sword; North; Green; associated with Fukujoju Nyorai (Amoghasiddhi) and Tara Buddha; embodies the accomplishing of deep awareness; this family also represents actions (green, north), the wind, and tongue consciousness.
- Padma (Lotus) Family. Converts desire, lust and passion into the wisdom of discriminating awareness, or the wisdom of distinction; main Buddha figures are Amida Nyorai (Amitabha) and Kannon Bosatsu (Avalokiteshvara); West; Red; family also represents speech (red, west), fire, and nose consciousness.
- Tathagata (Buddha) Family. Converts ignorance and bewilderment into the wisdom of primordial awareness, or the wisdom of universal lawfulness; family is represented by the Wheel (turning the wheel of the law), and associated with Dainichi Nyorai (Vairochana or Mahavairocana); Center or Zenith; White; the primordial Buddha, the cosmic Buddha; represents deep awareness of the sphere of reality (Skt. dharmadhatu); also represents body, earth, and eye consciousness.
- Ratna (Jewel) Family. Converts pride, greed, and envy into the wisdom of equanimity, or the wisdom of essential similarity; main Buddha figure is Hosho Nyorai (Ratnasambhava); South; Yellow; this family also represents deep awareness of equalities, goodness (yellow, south), water, and ear consciousness.
LEARN MORE
 Handbook on Viewing Buddhist Statues
B&W mudra photos on this web page were scanned from this totally wonderful handbook by Ishii Ayako. Japanese language only; 192 pages; 80+ color photos. Click here to buy book at Amazon
- Japanese Language Only - Excellent Site
www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/HandS/tango/inzo/inzo.html
- Buddha.net
www.buddhanet.net/mudras.htm
- Buddha-Gallery.net
Editor's Note - This was my main source for Sanskrit names and descriptions of the Five Wisdom Buddha. Thanks ! HOWEVER, their site is no longer online, and I don't know the new URL.
http://buddha-gallery.net/jina_mudras.htm
http://buddha-gallery.net/pantheon.htm#jinas
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
www.uwec.edu/greider/BMRB/index.htm
- The Five Wisdom Buddha (Transcendent/Dhyani Buddha)
- essenes.crosswinds.net/5BUDFAMILIES.html
- www.webcastmy.com.my/bodhivision/Symb5.htm
- www.berzinarchives.com/tantra/buddha_family_traits.html
- timphu.bhutan.at:81/~bhutan/altdye00/c-viex/k-02-02-01-01/start.php3
- http://members.tripod.com/~Neurotopia/Zen/Mudra/
Interesting but annoying site (many popup windows)
- QUESTION FROM VIEWER
I have sometimes come across the terms Buddha of the past, of the present, and of the future. It relates to the mudra I believe. The one before the teaching has one on the ground (past Buddha). The mudra with one or two hand(s) in the air is during the teaching (present Buddha). After the teaching is both hands in the lap, as one is content (future Buddha). I can't trace the source now, but I think it was in "The Circle of Bliss," which is a catalog of a Tibetan art exhibit. Can you verify this?
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