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Fugen Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
Origin India = Samantabhadra
Protector of those who teach the dharma.
Embodies wisdom of essential sameness.
Made ten vows of practice and faith.
Often depicted riding an elephant.
Prominent in the Lotus Sutra.
Protector of Disciples of the Lotus Sutra.
Popular by Heian Era among Tendai Sect.
Fugen teaches that action is equally important as thought and meditation. Fugen is the protector of all those who teach the dharma (the Buddhist teachings), and symbolizes the power of wisdom in overcoming obstacles. Often depicted on an elephant (traditionally a white elephant with six tusks), Fugen is sometimes shown with a lotus flower in his left hand or seated on a lotus. The lotus is a symbol of purity, and in Buddhist art, the Shaka Nyorai (Historical Buddha) and other Buddhist deities are often pictured seated on a lotus or holding a lotus. Although a beautiful flower, the lotus grows out of the mud at the bottom of a pond. Buddha deities are enlightened beings who "grew" out of the "mud" of the material world. Like the lotus, they are beautiful and pure even though they grew up in the material world.
Mantra in Japanese
Sanskrit Seed Sound - AN
Historical Notes
Like Monju Bosatsu, Fugen Bosatsu is said to have followed and assisted the Historical Buddha. Monju and Fugen are often shown flanking the historical Buddha in a grouping called the Shaka Trinity (SHAKA SANZON). In addition, historically, there are four Bodhisattva (Bosatsu) in East Asia, each symbolizing different aspects of Buddhist belief and practice. They are the Kannon Bosatsu (compassion), Monju Bosatsu (wisdom), Fugen Bosatsu (praxis, or practice), and Jizo Bosatsu (vast patience and salvation from suffering). Fugen is also known as the "Great Conduct" bosatsu, for he made ten vows for practicing Buddhism and achieving enlightenment (see "manjushri.com" link at bottom of page for details).
Fugen probably arrived in Japan sometime in the 8th century, for he was already a major deity during the Heian Period (794-1192). According to one source:
In the Heian period, women of the Japanese court adopted a form of Buddhism based on the worship of the Lotus Sutra and Bodhisattva Fugen. The Lotus Sutra is the principle Buddhist text concerned with the salvation of women, and Fugen is the protector Bodhisattva of the disciples of the Lotus Sutra. Thus did the women of the time adopt Fugen as their protector spirit.
Source of above quote:
www.cyberport.uqam.ca/english/countries/japan/history3b.htm
 
Heian-Kamakura Period, 12th Century
Statue found at Myoho-in
Photos courtesty Kyoto National Museum
Modern wood statue
Courtesy www.butsuzou.com/jiten/fugen.html
SHAKA SANZON -- Shaka Trinity
- Fugen Bosatsu, along with Monju Bosatsu, appear together often with Shaka Nyorai. Monju Bosatsu is frequently depicted with a sword in one hand and a sutra in the other. Sometimes he carries a lotus flower and is riding a lion. Fugen is often depicted riding a white elephant or holding a lotus flower. This grouping of three statues is called the Shaka Trinity or Shaka Sanzon in Japanese.
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MORE ABOUT FUGEN BOSATSU
Quoted from JAANUS (Japan Architecture & Art Net Users System)
Literally "universally good;" also called Henkitsu 遍吉. A bodhisattva who is shown mounted on a six-tusked white elephant and appears to devotees in order to protect and instruct them. In Mahayana Buddhism he plays a central role in the KEGONKYOU 華厳経 (Sk: Avatamsaka-sutra), the pilgrimage mandara of fifty-five saints preserved at Toudaiji 東大寺 in Nara. At the same time, according to the HOKEKYOU 法華経 or Lotus Sutra. (Sk: Saddharmapundarika-sutra) he is closely associated with Monju Bosatsu, the principal bodisattva who represents wisdom and enlightenment. Together they serve as the two attendants of Shaka Nyorai (the Historical Buddha), in one version of the Shaka Triad (Shaka Sanzon), with Fugen on the right symbolizing praxis and Monju on the left symbolizing wisdom. In Japan, because of the great popularity of the Lotus Sutra, Fugen is most commonly represented riding an elephant as described in that text, usually with his hands clasped together but sometimes holding a lotus, scepter or scroll. Renowned examples of pictorial representations are kept at Tokyo National Museum (late Heian period mid 12c) and Bujouji 豊乗寺 (Tottori prefecture; late Heian period 12c), while a representative example of a statuary image dates from the Heian period (first half of 12c) and is held by the Okura Shuukokan 大倉集古館 (Tokyo). In Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyou 密教), Fugen is considered to symbolize the thought/mind of enlightenment, bodaishin 菩提心, and appears in both the Womb World and Diamond World Mandalas. In the Taizoukai mandala he appears in the central Eight-Petal Court, Chuudaiihachiyouin 中台八葉院 (holding a lotus surmounted with a sword in his left hand) and in the Monju Court, Monjuin 文殊院 next to Monju (holding a lotus surmounted with a three-pronged vajra in his left hand). In the Kongoukai Mandala he is included among the 16 Deities of the Auspicious Aeon (gengou juurokuson 賢劫十六尊) and is also identified with Kongousatta 金剛薩た among the 16 Great Bodhisattvas (juuroku daibosatsu 十六大菩薩). In Japan he also figures among the so-called Thirteen (13) Buddhas (juusanbutsu 十三仏), presiding over the memorial service held on the 28th day after a person's death. A variant form of Fugen is called Fugen Enmei Bosatsu 普賢延命菩薩 and is invoked in the "Fugen Rite for Longevity" (Fugenenmei Hou 普賢延命法), regarded as an important rite especially in the Tendai 天台 sect. Fugen Enmei Bosatsu appears in two forms. The first is two-armed and seated on a lotus supported by either three elephants or a single three-headed elephant. He holds a five-pronged vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. The second form is the 20-armed form (also appearing in the Henchiin 遍知院 of the Taizoukai mandara), seated on a lotus that is sometimes supported by four elephants. An example of a painting of the first form is that preserved at Matsunoodera 松尾寺 (Kyoto; mid 12c) and of the second that preserved at Jikouji 持光寺 (Hiroshima Prefecture 1153). There are also examples of statuary images of both forms. Fugen also figures in the "Picture of Fugen and the Ten Demonesses" (Fugen juurasetsunyo-zu 普賢十羅刹女図), in which Fugen in his role as protector of devotees of the Lotus Sutra is depicted sitting on a six-tusked elephant and accompanied by ten demonesses (rasetsunyo 羅刹女; Sk: raksasi, who are also mentioned in the Lotus Sutra as tutelary spirits of the Lotus Sutra). These demonesses are depicted in either Tang Chinese costume (e.g., painting from the Heian period (12c) preserved at Rozanji 盧山寺, Kyoto or in Japanese dress (e.g., painting from Kamakura period (13c) in the Hinohara 日野原 Collection, Tokyo. <end JAANUS quote>
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SIDE NOTES:
www.asahi-net.or.jp/~QM9T-KNDU/buddhism.htm
Monju and Fugen may remind us of the accidents at a nuclear power plant. Two fast breeder reactors located in Fukui Prefecture were named 'Monju' and 'Fugen'. However, 'Monju' was temporarily shut down on December 8, 1995 due to a leak of sodium coolant. Ironically, December 8 was the day Sakyamuni attained enlightenment.
Also Fugen is supposed to be advanced thermal reactors using both uranium and plutonium as fuel. In 1995, however, the government gave up the plan to develop such reactors in the face of stiff opposition. The reactor, which entered service in March 1979, cost 68.5 billion yen to build, but may cost three times that amount to dismantle it, or 200 billion yen (US$1.5 billion). From the Buddhist viewpoint, naming the reactors 'Fugen' and 'Monju' was blasphemy against the Bodhisattva. Swift is Heaven's vengeance.
Same statue as that shown at top of page.
Treasure of Myoho-in (Sanjusangendo) in Kyoto
12th century, wood
Elephant Symbolism In India, the god Ganesh (also Ganesha) is portrayed with the head of an elephant, and assists believers in overcoming all obstacles -- akin to the force of an elephant crashing through the jungle. The son of Parvati, Ganesh removes every difficulty and is invoked at the start of any new enterprise. The elephant may also symbolize unrestrained passion. Linked with Fugen Bosatsu, the elephant appears to symbolize the overcoming of obstacles. (also see Taishakuten for more on elephants)
LEARN MORE
- www.manjushri.com/BUDDHA/Samantabhadra.html
- www.aasianst.org/EAA/sjoquist.htm
- www.butsuzou.com/jiten/fugen.html
- www.kyohaku.go.jp/indexe.htm (various photos shown above)
- www.pandaemonium.net/menu/devil/Fugen.html
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