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Godai Nyorai (Japanese)
Five Buddha of Wisdom
Five Buddha of Meditation
Five Jina | Five Tathagatas
Especially important to the Shingon Sect of Esoteric Buddhsim, these five Tathagata are eminations of the absolute Buddha. They appear frequently on the Japanese Mandala. 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, or the Six States of Existence (i.e., the cycle of suffering, Sanskrit = samsara). Each of the five has a specific Mudra (hand gesture) that corresponds to one of five defining episodes in the life of the Historical Buddha. Each of the five is also associated with a direction (north, south, east, west, center/zenith). The Bosatsu (Bodhisattva) often wear crowns that bear an effigy of their "spiritual father" -- i.e., one of these five deities. The five are:
- Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana or Mahavairocana) | Center (Zenith)
- Fukujoju Nyorai (Amoghasiddhi) | North
- Hosho Nyorai (Ratnasambhava) | South
- Ashuku Nyorai (Akshobhya) | East
- Amida (Amitabha) | West
 
Closeups from Kongokai Mandala
Image in center is Dainichi Nyorai
Heian Period, 9th C
Kyoogoku-ji (Toji) Temple
Photos courtesy of Kyoto National Museum
www.kyohaku.go.jp/tokuten/elegance/eleg2e.htm
- Dainichi Nyorai
 Sanskrit = Vairocana or Mahavairocana
Buddha (Tathagata) Family; converts ignorance and bewilderment into the wisdom of primordial awareness, or the wisdom of universal lawfulness; Dainichi corresponds to the Historical Buddha's first turning of the Wheel of the Law at Deer Park in Sarnath (India), where Shaka Nyorai (the Historical Buddha) gave his first sermon after reaching enlightenment; the turning of the wheel is a metaphor for teaching the way of enlightenment; Dainichi Nyorai is known as the primordial or cosmic Buddha; Center or Zenith; White; also represents body, earth, and eye consciousness.
 Fukujyoju Nyorai (Sanskrit = Amoghasiddhi)
Karma Family; converts jealousy and envy into all-accomplishing wisdom, or the wisdom required by karma for its completion; family represented by sword; sometimes associated with Tara Bosatsu North, Green
 Hosho Nyorai (Sanskrit = Ratnasambhava)
Ratna (Jewel) Family; converts pride, greed and envy into the wisdom of equanimity, or the wisdom of essential similarity; South; Yellow
 Ashuku Nyorai (Sanskrit = Akshobhya)
Vajra (Diamond) Family; converts anger and aggression into mirror-like wisdom; East; Blue
 Amida Nyorai (Sanskrit = Amitabha)
Padma (Lotus) Family; converts desire, lust and passion into the wisdom of discriminating awareness, or the wisdom of distinction; West; Red; Padma (Lotus) family also represents speech, fire, and nose consciousness; includes Kannon Bosatsu (Avalokiteshvara), who is one of Amida's main attendants.
Closeup from Kongokai (Diamond) Mandala
Image in center is Dainichi Nyorai
North (Top) = Fukujyoju | South (Bottom) = Hosho
Left (West) = Amida | Right (East) = Ashuku
Heian Period, 9th C
Kyoogoku-ji (Toji) Temple
Photos courtesy of Kyoto National Museum
www.kyohaku.go.jp/tokuten/elegance/eleg2e.htm
LEARN MORE
- Japanese Mandara (Mandala)
The mandara page includes more photos and details
- Five Tathagata of Kongokai Japanese Mandara
www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/bonzisyo/set/kon5.html
Japanese language only
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