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Kokuzo Bosatsu (Skt. Akasagarbha)
All-Encompassing Wisdom
Kokuzo literally means "Vast and Boundless Vessel"
Last Update July 20, 2003
Added 2 Photos
Origin India
Deity of Wisdom and Memory
Protector of Craftspeople and Artisans
One of the first Buddhist deities to arrive in Japan
Kokuzo Bosatsu, Nara Era, Treasure of Gakuon-ji
Photo courtesy of the Handbook on Viewing Buddhist Statues
Kokuzo (also written Kokuuzou, Kokuuzoo) symbolizes the great Buddha wisdom that permeates the "vast and boundless universe."
Believers pray to Kokuzo to grant them wisdom on their quest toward enlightenment. People also pray to Kokuzo to improve their memory, technical skills, and artistic talents, for Kokuzo is reverred not only as the deity of wisdom, but as the protector of craftspeople and artisans.
Kokuzo is among the first deities to be represented in sculpture in Japan, often in the form of statues imported to Japan from China in the 8th century AD. (Although the Toji Temple in Kyoto houses a wonderful hard-dark-wood-half-life-size set of five Kokuzo statues sitting on peacock, horse, and other animals; the statues are dated from around 580 to 640 AD, and they retain all the quality and feeling of bronze). Kokuzo statues can generally be identified by looking at the position of the hands. In one hand, Kokuzo typically holds the wish-granting jewel, or a lotus stem topped off with the holy orb. In the other, Kokuzo is often holding a sharp sword, which represents wisdom (cutting through ignorance), or else his hand is empty, with the fingertips touching the ground. This mudra (hand position) is called bhumi-sparsha (literally "earth-touching gesture"; Yoganin in Japanese). This mudra is associated with the historical Buddha, who "calls the earth to witness" during his battle with Mara (the Evil One) by touching the earth. For a detailed review of hand gestures, please see the Mudra page.
Kokuzo is one of the Thirteen Deities of the Shingon School (consisting of Five Buddhas, seven Bodhisattvas, and Fudo Myoo). As a group, they represent the chief deities of the Taizokai and Kongokai mandalas. See below links for more on Taizokai and Shingon.
Sanskrit Seed Sound = Tarakku
Japanese Mantra for Kokuzo Bosatsu
Kokuzo Bosatsu - Horin-ji Temple, 7th Century
Kokuzo Bosatsu - 9th Century, Jingo-ji Temple
Two of the Five Kokuzo (Godai Kokuzo)
Restored Painting - Unknown Artist and Date
Found on web at http://www.koku-j.com/english.html
Godai Kokuzo Bodhisattva, Jingo-ji, Kyoto
Early Heian Period, 794-969 CE
Photo courtesy of:
http://art.sdsu.edu/courses/artstudy/565_1/1.4.html
 
ABOVE TWO PHOTOS:
Courtesy Nat'l Research Institute for Cultural Properties (see link below)
(L) Kongo-Kokuzo Bosatsu, one of the Five Great Akasagarbha, wood, Chinese Tang Dynasty, 9th century, To-ji Temple, Kyoto
Others, like Ernest F. Fenollosa, date them from around 580 to 640 AD
(R) Hokkai-Kokuzo Bosatsu, one of the Five Great Akasagarbha, wood, Chinese Tang Dynasty, 9th century, To-ji Temple, Kyoto
Rare wood sculptues dating from the Chinese Tang and Sung dynasties, brought to Japan in the 9th century. Two of the five are shown above. The five statues are each seated on pedestals in the form of a lion, elephant, horse, peacock, and Karura (bird man).
Hanka: Japanese name for the half lotus position of meditation. In this position, one of the two feet is brought up and the back of the foot is pressed against the opposite inner thigh.
Kokuzo Bosatsu - Treasure of Chusonji
Late Heian Period; photo courtesy of magazine Meguru #35
Top - Closeup of wish-fulfilling jewel in below photo
Below - Painting in collection of Tokyo National Museum
Formerly owned by Mitsui Gomei Co.
132.0 x 84.4, Heian Period, 12th century, National Treasure.
www.tnm.go.jp/scripts/col/MOL1.en.idc?X=A10498
LEARN MORE
- National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo
Images of early Kokuzo sculptures imported into Japan from China
Statues of Two of the Five Great Akasagarbha
Belonging to Kanchi-in, To-ji Temple, in Kyoto
www.tobunken.go.jp/~bijutsu/english/kenkyu/kenkyu01.html#section1
- Tokyo National Museum - Wonderful Photo Library
http://www.tnm.go.jp/scripts/col/MOL1.en.idc?X=A10498
http://www.tnm.go.jp/scripts/col/MON1.en.idc?Q=11______4121_
- Taizokai Mandala - Excellent
www.bremen.de/info/nepal/Gallery-3/Cosmos/9-6/garbhadatu-1.htm
- Shingon Web Site
http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/jusanbutsu.html
- San Diego State University
Excellent Photo Tour of Ancient Japanese Buddhism
http://art.sdsu.edu/courses/artstudy/565_1/1.4.html
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