Religion:Five Tathāgatas
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In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, the Five Tathāgatas (Sanskrit: पञ्चतथागत, pañcatathāgata; Chinese: 五方佛; pinyin: Wǔfāngfó) or Five Wisdom Tathāgatas (Chinese: 五智如来; pinyin: Wǔzhì Rúlái), the Five Great Buddhas, the Five Dhyani Buddhas and the Five Jinas (Sanskrit for "conqueror" or "victor"), are five Buddhas which are often venerated together. Various sources provide different names for these Buddhas, though the most common today are: Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Vairocana, Amitābha, and Amoghasiddhi.[1]
They are sometimes seen as emanations and representations of the five qualities of the Adi-Buddha or "first Buddha", which is associated with the Dharmakāya.[1] Some sources also include this "first Buddha" as a sixth Buddha along with the five.[1]
These five Buddhas are a common subject of Vajrayana mandalas and they feature prominently in various Buddhist Tantras. The Five Tathagathas is the primary object of realization and meditation in Shingon Buddhism, a school of Vajrayana Buddhism founded in Japan by Kūkai.
In Chinese Buddhism, veneration of the five Buddhas has dispersed from Chinese Esoteric Buddhism into other Chinese Buddhist traditions like Chan and Tiantai. They are regularly enshrined in many Chinese Buddhist temples and regularly invoked in rituals, such as the Liberation Rite of Water and Land and the Yoga Flaming Mouth ceremony (瑜伽焰口法會), as well as prayers and chants.[2][3]
They are also sometimes called the "dhyani-buddhas", a term first recorded in English by Brian Houghton Hodgson, a British Resident in Nepal,[4] in the early 19th century, and is unattested in any surviving traditional primary sources.[5]
Origin
The Five Wisdom Buddhas are a development of the Buddhist Tantras, and later became associated with the trikaya or "three body" theory of Buddhahood. While in the Tattvasaṃgraha Tantra, there are only four Buddha families, the full Diamond Realm mandala with five Buddhas first appears in the Vajrasekhara Sutra.[1]
Representations of the five Dhyani Buddhas, who are abstract aspects of Buddhahood rather than Buddhas or gods, have elaborate differences.[6] Each must face in a different direction (north, south, east, west, or center), and, when painted, each is a different color (blue, yellow, red, green, or white). Each has a different mudrā and symbol; embodies a different aspect, type of evil, and cosmic element; has a different consort and spiritual son, as well as different animal vehicles (elephant, lion, peacock, harpies or garuda, or dragon).[7]
The Vajrasekhara also mentions a sixth Buddha, Vajradhara, "a Buddha (or principle) seen as the source, in some sense, of the five Buddhas."[1]
The Five Buddhas are aspects of the dharmakaya "dharma-body", which embodies the principle of enlightenment in Buddhism.
Initially, two Buddhas appeared to represent wisdom and compassion: Akshobhya and Amitābha. A further distinction embodied the aspects of power, or activity, and the aspect of beauty, or spiritual riches. In the Golden Light Sutra, an early Mahayana text, the figures are named Dundubishvara and Ratnaketu, but over time their names changed to become Amoghasiddhi and Ratnasambhava. The central figure came to be called Vairocana.
Vairocana, the first Dhyani Buddha, embodies sovereignty. [7] Japanese Pure Land Buddhists think that Vairocana and the other Dhyani Buddhas are manifestations of Amitābha, but Japanese Shingon Buddhists think that Amitābha and the other Dhyani Buddhas are manifestations of Vairocana.[8]
Akshobhya, the second Dhyani Buddha embodies steadfastness and faces east. He is seated in the Vajraparyanka (also known as Bhūmisparśa) pose, with the right hand on the right knee, palm turned inwardly, and middle finger touching the ground.[7][9][10]
Amitābha (Japanese: Amida) is the most ancient Dhyani Buddha, embodying light and facing west, and is the central figure in Pure Land Buddhism. A statue of Amitābha, when seated, has a samadhi mudrā with both palms face up, on top of each other, in his lap.[7][11][12]
When these Buddhas are represented in mandalas, they may not always have the same colour or be related to the same directions. In particular, Akshobhya and Vairocana may be switched. When represented in a Vairocana mandala, the Buddhas are arranged like this:
| Amoghasiddhi (North) | ||
| Amitābha (West) | Vairocana (Principal deity/meditator) | Akshobhya (East) |
| Ratnasambhava (South) |
Elements of the Five Families
There is an expansive number of associations with each element of the five Buddhas mandala, so that the mandala becomes a cipher and mnemonic visual thinking instrument and concept map; a vehicle for understanding and decoding the whole of the Dharma.
In numerous Vajrayana sources, like in each Buddha Family (Sanskrit: kula) or Division has numerous symbols, secondary figures (like bodhisattvas, protectors, etc.), powers, and aspects.[13]
Some of these esoteric associations include:
| Family (Kula) | Buddha | Colour ← Element → Symbolism | Cardinality → Wisdom → Attachments → Gestures | Means → Maladaptation to Stress | Season | Wisdom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddha Family | Vairocana | white ← space → wheel | center → all accommodating → rūpa → Teaching the Dharma | Turning the Wheel of Dharma → ignorance, delusion | Transition | 法界体性智: The wisdom of the essence of the dharma-realm meditation mudra.[14] |
| Karma Family | Amoghasiddhi | green ← air, wind → viśvavajra | north → all accomplishing → mental formation, concept → fearlessness | protect, destroy → envy, jealousy | spring | 成所作智: The wisdom of perfect practice. |
| Padma (Lotus) Family | Amitābha | red ← fire → lotus | west → inquisitive → perception → meditation | magnetize, attachment → selfishness, lust | summer | 妙観察智: The wisdom of observation. |
| Ratna (Jewel) Family | Ratnasambhava | gold/yellow ← earth → jewel | south → equanimous → feeling → giving | enrich, increase → pride, greed | autumn | 平等性智: The wisdom of equanimity. |
| Vajra Family | Akṣobhya | blue ← water → sceptre, vajra | east → nondualist (Dualist) → vijñāna → humility | pacify, accept → aggression, aversion | winter | 大円鏡智: The wisdom of reflection. |
The five Tathāgathas are protected by five Wisdom Kings, and in China and Japan are frequently depicted together in the Mandala of the Two Realms. In the Śūraṅgama mantra revealed in the Śūraṅgama sutra, an especially influential dharani in the Chinese Chan tradition, the five Tathāgathas are mentioned as the hosts of the five divisions which controls the vast demon armies of the five directions.[15]
Consorts, mantras and seed syllables
According to the Guhyasamājatantra, each Buddha family is also assigned a specific mantra:[13]
- Vairocana - Buddha family mantra: jinajik
- Akṣobhya - Vajra family mantra: vajradhr̥k
- Ratnasaṁbhava - Ratna family mantra: ratnadhr̥k
- Amitābha - Lotus family mantrs: ārolik
- Amoghasiddhi - Karma family mantra: prajñādhr̥k
In East Asia, they each are also often depicted with consorts, and preside over their own pure lands, with the aspiration to be reborn into a pure land being the central point of Pure Land Buddhism. Although all five Buddhas have pure lands, it appears that only Sukhavati of Amitābha, and to a much lesser extent Abhirati of Akshobhya (where great masters like Vimalakirti and Milarepa are said to dwell) were popularly venerated, though some temples include all five Buddhas in their mandalas and statuary.
| Buddha (Skt) | Consort | Bodhisattva | Pure land | Bīja |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vairocana | Dharmadhatvishvari | Samantabhadra | Akaniṣṭha-Ghanavyūha (Center) | Om |
| Akṣobhya | Locanā | Vajrapani | Abhirati (East) | Hum |
| Amitābha | Pandara [16] | Avalokiteśvara | Sukhāvatī (West) | Hrih |
| Ratnasaṃbhava | Mamaki [17] | Ratnapani | Śrīmat (South) | Tram |
| Amoghasiddhi | Green Tara[18][19] | Viśvapāni | Ah |
Gallery
Ancient painting of Pancha Maha Thathagatas, Amoghasiddhi (green), Akshobhya (blue), Amitabha (red), Vairocana (white), Ratnasambhava (yellow) (date 1100–1200) in Nepal.
Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) statue of Amoghasiddhi in Shanhua Temple in Datong, Shanxi, China
Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) statue of Ratnasambhava in Shanhua Temple in Datong, Shanxi, China
Ming dynasty (1368-1644) statue of Amoghasiddhi in Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi, China
Ming dynasty (1368-1644) statue of Ratnasambhava in Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi, China
Five Thathagatas painting (Date 1400-1500), Ratnasambhava, Akshobhya, Vairocana, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi / Himalayan art resources foundation in Nepal
Shrine to the Five Tathagathas in Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian, China
Shrine to the Five Tathagathas in Bixia Temple on Mount Wutai in Shanxi, China
Chinese shrine to the Five Tathagathas in Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong, Australia
Five Tathagatas in Shishoin Temple (Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo) . From the right side, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava, Vairocana, Amitābha, and Amoghasiddhi
Painting of the Five Buddhas, circa the 6th year under Injo of Joseon Dynasty (1628), Korea
Gilt copper crown with five buddhas, Tibet, 1644-1911 CE.
Ritual Diadem with the Five Jina Buddhas, Northern Nepal or Tibet, 19th century
Five Buddhas, Nepal, 16th century
Statues of the Five Tathagathas, Tri Ratna Buddhist Centre, Pekanbaru, Sumatra
Renge-in Tanjō-ji
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See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Williams, Wynne, Tribe; Buddhist Thought: A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition, page 210.
- ↑ "香光莊嚴". http://www.gaya.org.tw/magazine/article.php?aid=220.
- ↑ Hong, Tsai-Hsia (2007). The Water-Land Dharma Function Platform Ritual and the Great Compassion Repentance Ritual (Thesis). OCLC 64281400. ProQuest 304764751.
- ↑ Bogle (1999) pp. xxxiv-xxxv
- ↑ Saunders, E Dale, "A Note on Śakti and Dhyānibuddha," History of Religions 1 (1962): pp. 300-06.
- ↑ Sakya, pp. 35, 76.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Sakya, p. 76.
- ↑ Getty, Alice (1914). The gods of northern Buddhism: their history, iconography and progressive evolution through the northern Buddhist countries. Oxford Clarendon Press via Internet Archive. p. 3. https://archive.org/stream/northernbuddhism00gettuoft#page/n73/mode/2up.
- ↑ "The Lotus Sutra focus on Śākyamuni also fits the main Buddha figure in Zen, rather than the Buddhas Amida or Vairocana venerated in the contemporary Pure Land and Esoteric (and Kegon) movements." in Taigen Dan Leighton (2005). "Dōgen's Appropriation of Lotus Sutra Ground and Space". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies (Nanzan University) 32 (1): 87. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195320930.003.0004.
- ↑ "One of the two wives of Songtsen Gampo, she brought a large image of either Shakyamuni or Akshobhya Buddha (they are visually indistinguishable)..." in "Glossary (Balza, Balmoza)". The Huntington Archive, Ohio State University. http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/resources/downloads/COBGlossaryA-L.pdf. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
- ↑ Sakya, p. 30.
- ↑ Similarities with Amitabha in "Who's Who of Buddhism". Vipassana Foundation. http://www.thedhamma.com/whos_who.htm. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Nicolas Revire, Rajat Sanyal, Rolf Giebel. Avalokiteśvara of the “Three and a Half Syllables”: A Note on the Heart-Mantra Ārolik in India. Arts Asiatiques, 2021, Arts Asiatiques, 76, pp.5-30. ⟨10.3406/arasi.2021.2095⟩. ⟨halshs-04142356⟩
- ↑ Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System. (2004). JAANUS / hokkai jouin 法界定印. Available: http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/h/hokkaijouin.htm . Last accessed 27 Nov 2013.
- ↑ The Śūraṅgama sūtra : a new translation. Hsüan Hua, Buddhist Text Translation Society. Ukiah, Calif: Buddhist Text Translation Society. 2009. ISBN 978-0-88139-962-2. OCLC 300721049.[page needed]
- ↑ "Pandara The Shakti of Amitabha". Buddhanature.com. http://www.buddhanature.com/buddha/pandara.html.
- ↑ "Mamaki The Shakti of Aksobhya". Buddhanature.com. http://www.buddhanature.com/buddha/mamaki.html.
- ↑ "chart of the Five Buddhas and their associations". Religionfacts.com. 2012-12-21. http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/deities/five_dhyani_buddhas.htm.
- ↑ Symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas
Bibliography
- Bogle, George; Markham, Clements Robert; and Manning, Thomas (1999) Narratives of the Mission of George Bogle to Tibet and of the Journey of Thomas Manning to Lhasa ISBN:81-206-1366-X
- Bucknell, Roderick & Stuart-Fox, Martin (1986). The Twilight Language: Explorations in Buddhist Meditation and Symbolism. Curzon Press: London. ISBN:0-312-82540-4
- Sakya, Jnan Bahadur (compiler) (2002). Short Description of Gods, Goddesses and Ritual Objects of Buddhism and Hinduism in Nepal (10th [reprint] ed.). Handicraft Association of Nepal. ISBN 99933-37-33-1.
External links
- Five Dhyani Buddhas - chart of the Five Buddhas and their associations.
- StudyBuddhism.com - The Five Buddha-Families and Five Dhyani Buddhas
- Five Dhyani Buddhas Mandala - Thangka painting of the Five Buddhas.
- Symbolism of the five Dhyani Buddhas
- Video demonstration the mantra chanting and mudras used during the Chinese Yogacara Flaming Mouth ceremony (瑜伽焰口法會) to invoke the Five Tathagathas in the ritual space.
- Praise to the Five Buddhas (Chinese: 禮讚五方佛; Pinyin: Lǐzàn Wǔfāngfó), part of the liturgy chanted in certain Chinese monastaries.
- Color Symbolism In Buddhist Art
- Mark Schumacher: Godai Nyorai (Japanese) - Five Buddha of Wisdom Five Buddha of Meditation Five Jina | Five Tathagatas
- The Five Buddha Families - From Journey Without Goal: The Tantric Wisdom of the Buddha by Chögyam Trungpa, Shambhala.org (archived 2007)
- 5 Dhyani Buddhas - 5 Dhyani Buddhas detailed with table
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