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Nikko Bosatsu (Sunlight) and Gakko Bosatsu (Moonlight)
Siblings who serve the Yakushi Nyorai
Sometimes attending the Kannon Bosatsu as well.
Nikko (Surya, Suryaprabha) and Gakko (Candra, Candraprabha)
Iconography in Japan is inconsistent.
In mainland Asia, they are DEVA, not Bosatsu.
Members of the BOSATSU (Bodhisattva) in Japan
Members of the TENBU GROUP (Deva Group)
Members of the 12 DEVA and 20 DEVA
Nikko and Gakko
Modern Wood Carvings available at www.butsuzou.com
Gakko and Nikko Bosatsu
Siblings who serve the Yakushi Nyorai. Nikko is the Bodhisattva of Sunlight, and Gakko is the Bodhisattva of Moonlight. Although they usually appear as attendants of the Yakushi Nyorai, it is nonetheless difficult to tell the two apart -- differences in dress, placement (right or left of the main image), and iconography (inner or outer arms raised) are not always consistent.
One way to distinquish between the two is to look for the Gachirin symbol (月輪 = Moon Disc). The Gachirin (also called Gatsurin or Getsurin) is a perfectly round circle meant to represent the full moon, a frequently used symbol in Buddhist painting and sculpture. It represents the Buddha's knowledge and virtue and symbolizes the aspirations of sentient beings to attain Buddhahood. The Gachirin is a key attribute of Gakkou Bosatsu, who is often shown in statues and paintings wearing a headpiece representing the moon or holding a circular form in the palm of his hand. The Gachirin is also often found on Buddhist grave stones called Gorinto.
Mantra to Nikko Bosatsu
Mantra to Gakko Bosatsu
 
Nikko: Skt - ah Gakko: Skt - sha
 
Left: Gakko, for sale at www.butuzou.com/buddha/1355/
Right: Gakko, for sale at www2.cyberoz.net/city/sanden/item03.htm
 Nikko and Gakko
Todai-ji Temple, Nara
courtesy art-and-archaeology.com
Although traditionally called Nikko and Gakko, these clay statues (746) may actually represent Brahma and Indra. They flank a large Fukukenjaku Kannon (see photo near bottom of this page) in the Sangatsu-do at Todai-ji. At 7 1/2 feet in height, the statues are larger than life size, although they are still dwarfed by the 12-foot high Kannon.
Nikko and Gakko usually appear as attendants of Yakushi Nyorai, but in the photo at right and below they attend the Fukukenjaku Kannon. It is difficult to distinguish between Nikko and Gakko, for their depictions in Japanese sculpture and art are inconsistent. Differences in dress, placement (right or left of the main image), and stance (inner or outer arms raised) can lend clues to help identify the two, but such differences are not consistent, For example, at Todai-ji, To-ji and Yakushi-ji, Nikko stands to the viewer's right, with Gakko positioned to the viewer's left. But at Kakuon-ji in Kamakura, Nikko is to the viewer's left while Gakko is positioned at the viewer's right.
Two B&W photos courtesy www.art-and-archaeology.com/japan/todaiji9.html
Fukukenjaku Kannon
Todai-ji, Nara, Japan
(L) Gakko (R) Nikko (Center) Fukukenjaku Kannon
photo courtesy www.art-and-archaeology.com
The Fukukenjaku Kannon at the Sangatsu-do (Todai-ji) stands 12 feet high. It dates to 746 AD and is made of dry lacquer. The Kannon is flanked by Nikko (right) and Gakko (left). This form of Kannon has eight arms. The statue bears a rather alarming expression for such a compassionate being.
Fukukenjaku means "never empty lasso." It refers to the coil of rope which the Kannon holds in one of his lower arms (viewer's right). Kannon uses this rope to catch straying souls and lead them to salvation. The lasso is found in other multi-armed forms of Kannon as well.
Nikko and Gakko
photo courtesy "Handbook on Viewing Buddhist Statues"
LEARN MORE
- ART AND TEMPLES OF JAPAN
http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/japan/japan.html
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