Email Site Author Mark Schumacher Sign Up for Our Free Newsletter on Buddhist Statuary spacer
Follow on Social Media
My Wordpress Buddha Statues Blog Follow Me on Facebook Follow Me on Twitter Follow Me on LinkedIn Follow Me on Youtube Free RSS Buddha News Feed 

Japanese Buddhism, Photo Dictionary of Japan's Shinto and Buddhist DivinitiesRETURN TO TOP PAGE of Japanese Buddhist Statuary A to Z Photo Library & Dictionary of Gods, Goddesses, Shinto Kami, Creatures, and DemonsCopyright and Usage PoliciesJump to Our Online Store Selling Handcrafted Statues
top line
spacer


QUICK START
Home: What's New
Buddha's Teaching
History & Timeline
Historical Buddha
Student's Guide
Teacher's Guide

DEITY GUIDES
Who's Who
Buddha
Bodhisattva
Myo-o
Shinto Kami
Shugendo
Stars & Planets
Tenbu (Deva)

OTHER GUIDES
About Site Author
Bibliography
Buddhism in Japan
Busshi Glossary
Carving Techniques
Cycle of Suffering
Drapery / Robes
Mandala Guide
Mudra Guide
Objects Guide
Pilgrimage Guide
Shinto Guide
Statues by Artist
Statues by Era
Symbols Guide
Terminology

A TO Z INDEX
3 Element Stele
3 Monkeys
4 Bosatsu
4 Celestial Emblems
4 Heavenly Kings
5 (Number Five)
5 Elements
5 Tathagata
5 Tier Pagoda
5 Wisdom Kings
6 Jizo (Jizou)
6 Kannon
6 Realms
6 Nara Schools
7 Lucky Gods
7 Nara Temples
8 Legions
8 Zodiac Patrons
10 Kings of Hell
12 Devas
12 Generals
12 Zodiac Animals
13 Butsu (Funerals)
28 Legions
28 Constellations
30 Monthly Buddha
30 Monthly Kami
33 Kannon
About the Author
Agyo
Aizen
Amano Jyaku
Amida Nyorai
Apsaras
Arakan (Rakan)
Arhat (Rakan)
Ashuku Nyorai
Asuka Era Art Tour
Asura (Ashura)
Baku (Eats Dreams)
Bamboo
Benzaiten (Benten)
Bibliography
Big Buddha
Birushana Nyorai
Bishamon-ten
Bodhisattva
Bonbori Artwork
Bosatsu Group
Bosatsu of Mercy
Bosatsu on Clouds
Buddha (Historical)
Buddha Group
Buddha Statues
Busshi (Sculptors)
Calligraphy
Celestial Emblems
Celestial Maidens
Children Patrons
Classifying
Color Red
Confucius
Contact Us
Daibutsu
Daijizaiten
Daikokuten
Dainichi Nyorai
Daruma (Zen)
Datsueba-Hell Hag
Deva (Tenbu)
Donations
Dosojin
Dragon
Drapery (Robes)
Early Buddhism J.
Ebisu
Eight Legions
En no Gyoja
Estores
Family Tree
Footprints of Buddha
Fox (Inari)
Fudo Myo-o
Fugen Bosatsu
Fujin (Wind God)
Fukurokuju
Gakko & Nikko
Gardens
Gigeiten
Godai Nyorai
Goddess of Mercy
Goddesses
Gongen
Gravestones
Hachi Bushu
Hachiman
Hands (Mudra)
Hell (10 Judges)
Hell Hag (Datsueba)
Hell Scrolls
Henge
Hikyu (Lion Beast)
Holy Mountains
Ho-o (Phoenix)
Hotei
Idaten
Inari (Fox)
Ishanaten
Ishidoro/Ishidourou
Jikokuten
Jizo (Jizou)
Jocho Busshi
Juni Shi
Juni Shinsho
Juni Ten
Junrei (Pilgrimage)
Jurojin (Juroujin)
Juzenji (Juuzenji)
Jyaki or Tentoki
Kaikei Busshi
Kamakura Buddhism
Kankiten
Kannon Bosatsu
Kappa
Kariteimo
Karura
Karyoubinga
Kendatsuba
Kichijoten
Kitchen Gods
Kishibojin
Kitsune (Oinari)
Kokuzo Bosatsu
Kojin (Koujin)
Komokuten
Korean Buddhism
Koshin (Koushin)
Lanterns (Stone)
Links
Magatama
Making Statues
Mandara/Mandala
Maneki Neko
Marishiten (Marici)
Miroku Bosatsu
Monju Bosatsu
Monkeys
Moon Lodges
Mother Goddess
Mudra (Hands)
Myoken - Pole Star
Myo-o (Myou-ou)
Nara Era Art Tour
Newsletter Sign-up
Nijuhachi Bushu
Nikko & Gakko
Ninpinin
Nio Protectors
Nyorai Group
Objects & Symbols
Onigawara
Phoenix (Ho-o)
Pilgrimage Guide
Pottery
Protective Stones
Raigo Triad
Raijin (Thunder)
Rakan (Arhat)
Red Clothing
Reincarnation
Robes (Drapery)
Rock Gardens
Sanbo Kojin
Sanno Gongen
Sarutahiko
Sculptors (Busshi)
Seishi Bosatsu
Sendan Kendatsuba
Seven Lucky Gods
Shachi, Shachihoko
Shaka Nyorai
Shape Shifters
Shichifukujin
Shijin (Shishin)
Shinra Myoujin
Shinto Clergy
Shinto Concepts
Shinto Kami
Shinto Main Menu
Shinto Sects
Shinto Shrines
Shishi (Lion)
Shitenno
Shoki (Shouki)
Shomen Kongo
Shotoku Taishi
Shrines
Shugendo
Siddhartha
Six States
Star Deities
Stone Gardens
Stone Graves
Stone Lanterns
Stones (Top Menu)
Suijin (Water)
Symbols & Objects
Tamonten
Taishakuten
Tanuki
Temples
Temple Lodging
Tenbu Group
Tengu
Tennin & Tennyo
Tentoki or Jyaki
Terminology
Tiantai Art Tour
Tibetan Carpets
Tibet Photos
Tibetan Tanka
Transmigration
Ungyo
Unkei Busshi
Videos Buddhism
Water Basin
Weapons
Wheel of Life
Yakushi Nyorai
Yasha (Yaksha)
Zao Gongen
Zen (Daruma)
Zen Art Tour
Zodiac Calendar
Zochoten

 


 
spacer

BEFORE BUDDHISM
India, Hinduism, Hindu Deities,
Sanskrit Seed Syllables, and the Svastikah


This is a side page. Return to Parent Page.

Overview | Hinduism you are here | Theravada | Mahayana | Vajrayana | Rifts
RELATED: Early Buddhism in Japan | Comparing Schools | Guide to Buddhism in Japan

Modern - Sanmen Daikokuten in guise of Daijizaiten
The Japanese adopted many
Hindu deities into the Japanese
Buddhist pantheon. In fact, nearly all Buddhist deities have a Hindu
counterpart. For a listing of 80+ Hindu deities & their Japanese equivelents,
see the TENBU (Skt. = Deva) page.
ABOVE: Japanese statue of
Sanmen Daikokuten in the guise of
Daijizaiten. Photo from Butuzou.co.jp

Six Paths
of Karmic Rebirth

Jp. = Rokudō 六道 or
Rokudō-rinne 六道輪廻
Buddhist concept stemming
from Hindu’s karmic philosophies.
In Japan, most commonly
referred to as the Six Paths.

Marishiten stone market in Nagano, near Daiunji Temple
Another Hindu deity adopted into
the Japanese Buddhist pantheon.
Marishiten (goddess of warriors)
at Daiunji Temple 大雲寺
near Kyoto, Photo this J-site

spacerBefore Birth of Buddhism
Around the 15th century BC, India was inhabited by the Aryan people (Indo-European speakers), who developed a caste system that over time became known as Varnashrama Dharma. It consisted of the Brahmin (priests, scholars, teachers) at top, followed by Kshatriya (royalty and warriors), Vaisya (farmers and commoners) and Sudra (lower classes, including artisans). Another separate class, the “untouchables,” consisted of people who were shunned by society, such as those who handled the disposal of dead bodies. The Historical Buddha was born into the Kshatriya (royal) class around 500 BC.

The Aryans also developed a polytheistic folk religion known as Hinduism, and the people of India at the time lived according to the Brahman rites, for Brahma was one of the chief deities of that Hindu age. This early period of Hinduism is referred to as Brahmanism. The written language of the Aryans was Sanskrit -- considered a sacred language for the transmission of the Brahman scriptures and rites.

KARMIC REBIRTH. The Aryans also brought with them a belief in "transmigration" -- more commonly known in the West as reincarnation. It holds that all living things die and are reborn again into a separate existence. Your rebirth into the next life will be based on your behavior in your past life (your Karma). This rebirth occurs again and again. When Buddhism emerged many centuries later, it too stressed this belief in transmigration, one that still plays a major role in modern Buddhist philosophy -- known as the Six Realms of Existence (Skt. = Samsara, the cycle of life and death and rebirth). The modern Buddhist concept of Karma & Karmic Retribution is also a byproduct of ancient Hindu beliefs in transmigration and reincarnation. Buddhism, however, brought the promise of breaking free from the cycle of rebirth -- if one can eliminate desire and attain enlightenment, one is no longer doomed to death and rebirth over countless ages, but attains a state known as Nirvana, the ultimate state for pratitioners of Buddhism.

Followers of the Historical Buddha (died about 480 BC), embroidering the Hindu notions, found their own ways of calculating the ethical karmic balance sheet. They distinquished “deed karman” from “mental karman” (thoughts and motivations), and distinguished deeds from their results. They also attached karma to families and nations. But they kept inviolate their belief in the inevitable balancing of the karmic books.

In the early centuries following the Historical Buddha's death, the sacred Buddhist teachings were transmitted in Pali, the language of the masses, and it was from the Pali that many of the Buddhist teachings were first transmitted to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. It took about 1,000 years for the Buddhist teachings to arrive in Japan (6th century AD), but by then Buddhism had spread throughout mainland Asia, China in particular, where the teachings were translated into Chinese. In large part, the Japanese relied on these Chinese translations. In summation, three languages form the bedrock of the modern Buddhist cannon -- Sanskrit, Pali, and Chinese.

Top of Page

Chief Gods of Hinduism and Counterparts in Japanese Buddhism
There are literally hundreds of Hindu deities who were adopted into the Chinese and Japanese Buddhist pantheon, with nearly all Buddhist deities having a Hindu counterparts. Some of the most important are listed below. For a listing of 80+ Hindu deities and their Japanese counterparts, please see the TENBU (Skt. = Deva) page.  

Daijizaiten statue, Edo Era, Gokokuji Temple
Daijizaiten, Edo Era
Gokokuji Temple 護国寺
Photo:
From temple

spacerThree Main Gods of Hinduism
  1. Siva. Śiva. The "Destroyer." Sanskrit = Mahesvara. Also transliterated in Japan as Makeishura 摩醯首羅. Lord of Cosmic Destruction. In Japan, Siva comes in various forms, including Daikokuten 大黒天, Daijizaiten 大自在天 and Ishanaten 伊舎那天.  
     
  2. Brahma. Brahmā. The "Creator." Lord who created the world. In Japan, Brahma is known as Bonten 梵天, and is one of the Twelve Deva. Often shown together with Taishakuten 帝釈天 (see Indra below). 
     
  3. Visnu, Vishnu. Viṣṇu. The "Preserver." Represents ultimate reality, the all-pervading essence. In Japan, Vishnu appears in numerous forms, including Bichuten 毘紐天 (Bichūten), Mishichiju 微瑟紐 (Mishichijū), and Ungyo 吽形 (Ungyō), the latter the closed-mouth Nio Guardian who protects the entrance to the temple. Vishnu's mount is the bird-man deity known in Japan as Karura 迦楼羅. His wife in Hindu myths is the Buddhist deity known in Japan as Kichijoten 吉祥天 (Kichijōten) or Kudokuten 功徳天, the goddess of fortune and merit. In Esoteric Buddhism, he appears as a divinity in the outer court 外金剛部院 (Jp. = Gaikongōbuin) of the Taizokai 胎蔵界曼荼羅 (Taizōkai) mandala. He has many different names, including 那羅延天 (Skt. Nārāyana), 納拉辛哈 (Skt. Narasimha) and 婆藪天 (Skt. Vasudeva).

Top of Page

Kankiten Statue, Fukuoka Tower Entrance
Kankiten Statue
Near Nishi-Arashi 西新駅
 Photo:
This J-site

spacerOther Major Hindu Deities & Japanese Counterparts
  • Indra or Sakra or Śakro devānām indraḥ. A major Hindu god who serves as king of the gods on Mt. Sumeru (Jp. = Shumisen 須弥山), and as a protector of the Historical Buddha (Shaka 釈迦如来). Known as Taishakuten 帝釈天 in Japan, one of the Twelve Deva, and often shown together with Bonten (Skt. = Brahma). 
     
  • Sarasvati, Sarasvatī. The Hindu goddess of learning, known as Benzaiten 弁財天 in Japan, where she is worshipped as the goddess of music, poetry, learning, and art. She is one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods.
     
  • Myo-o 明王 (Myō-ō, or Mantra Kings). A class of Hindu deities incorporated into Buddhism. They appear in wrathful forms with furious faces, and multipe heads and arms to frighten  non-believers into accepting the teachings of Dainichi Buddha 大日如来 (Skt. = Vairocana or Mahavairocana).
     
  • 12 Deva Guardians (Jp. = Jūniten 十二天). Deities of the 12 directions in Esoteric Buddhism, including the four directions and four semi-directions, up and down, and sun and moon. Deva, a Sanskrit term meaning celestial being, is rendered as "Ten 天" in Japan (the latter literally means Heaven). The Deva are deities borrowed from Hindu mythology and adopted into Chinese and Japanese Buddhism as guardians of the monasteries of Esoteric Buddhist. They appear frequently in the Japanese mandala. Among the twelve, Bonten (Brahma) and Taishakuten (Indra) serve in the highest position. See the TENBU page for many more deva.

Top of Page

Svastikah 卍

swastikas forming the japanese character for "field"
Source:
Bernard Faure
Symbolism of the Kasaya in Soto Zen. 1995, pp 335-369


Svastikah, the Indian symbol, not the Nazi symbol, is derived from Sanskrit word SVASTIKAH meaning FORTUNATE.


spacerFrom Hinduism. Called Kyoji 胸字 (Kyōji) in Japan. It originated in India, and was often engraved on the chest of the Hindu deity Vishnu. It was incorporated by Buddhism and often appears on statues of the Buddha (Jp. = Nyorai 如来) and Bodhisattva (Jp. = Bosatsu 菩薩). It is also one of the 32 Marks of the Buddha (Sanjūnisō 三十二相). In Japan it represents the ”possession of all virtues” and is used as a symbol of Buddhist faith. This marking, when duplicated, turning one clockwise and the other counterclockwise, combines to form the Japanese character for FIELD 田, which symbolizes the “robe of the formless field of merit” -- a robe that is still sewn and worn by Japanese Buddhist clergy even today. See above chart for creating the “field” with two Kyoji.

The Kyōji 卍 (Skt. = Svastikah) became one of the most frequently used symbols in early Buddhism. Unfortunately, many centuries later it was misappropriated by Nazi Germany and called the Swastika.The German term Swastika comes from the Sanskrit word Svastikah, the latter meaning “to be fortunate.” The word stem SVASTI can be divided into SU (SV), meaning “good or well,” and ASTI (ASTIKAH), meaning “is” or “being.” In modern India, the word means “auspicious.” 

 

Top of Page

Sanskrit Seed Syllables, Siddham, & Bonji

Shaka Sanskrit Seed Sound - Baku
Baku (Jp. Pronunciation)
Shaka’s Seed Syllable

Ban - Sanskrit Seed Sllable for Dainichi Nyorai
Ban (Jp. Pronunciation)
Dainichi’s Seed Syllable

Sanskrit Seed Syllable for Amida Buddha (Nyorai, Tathagata)
Kiriku (Jp. Pronunciation
Amida’s Seed Syllable
spacerIn Japan, the generic term for "Sanskrit" is Bonji (梵字) or Bongo (梵語). The Japanese word for Seed Syllable is Shuji 種字 (Sanskrit = Bijaksara). In Japan, Sanskrit seed syllables are written in a script called Shittan 悉曇 (Sanskrit = Siddham). In Japanese Buddhist statuary, Buddhist deities are typically assigned a special seed syllable, one that is often inscribed somewhere on the statue or halo. Deities are also assigned mantras (Jp. = Shingon 真言) that contain these seed syllables -- the mantra is a magical incantation, a secret prayer, a special chant used to invoke the essence of the deity. Furthermore, Japan's esoteric sects also employ a mandala called the Seed-Syllable Mandala (Shuji Mandara 種字曼荼羅), in which the deities are symbolized by their individual seed syllables. A special version of this mandala, known as the Shiki Mandara (Shiki Mandara 敷曼荼羅) is used in initiation rites among esoteric sects. The initiand casts a flower onto the spread-out mandala, and the seed syllable on which it falls then becomes the patron deity of the intiand.

Kukai 空海 and Sanskrit in Japan
Sanskrit seed syllables are easy to spot in Japan. They are found on Japanese Buddhist amulets, gravestones, religious statuary, mandala artwork, and other objects, both old and new. By tradition, the introduction of seed syllables to Japan is credited to Kukai (Kūkai; +774-835), also known as Kobo Daishi 弘法大師 (Kōbō Daishi), who studied the main Chinese calligraphic scripts and Sanskrit Siddam while visiting China in the early 9th century, and brought back copies of the Seed-Syllable Mandala (see prior paragraph). Today he acclaimed as one of the Three Brushes (Jp = Sanpitsu 三筆 or Three Great Calligraphers) of Japan. On his return from China, he founded Japan’s Shingon 真言 sect of Esoteric Buddhism 密教 (Mikkyō). He played an active role in many fields, performing rituals for the emperor, constructing a large reservoir in Shikoku for the common people, and establishing the first school for common citizens. His legend is riddled with folklore. He is credited with everything from inventing Japan’s kana script to introducing homosexuality. He is one of Japan’s most celebrated calligraphers, and supposedly published Japan’s first dictionary. He became a major patron of the arts, and reportedly founded hundreds of temples across Japan. The Shikoku Pilgrimage to 88 Sites is a popular pilgrimage attributed to Kukai.

Over time, Kukai's Sanskrit syllabary was modified to better fit the Japanese lexicon. Since the time of Jōgon 浄厳 (+1639-1702), the Japanese-Sanskrit syllabary has traditionally consisted of 50 phonetic sounds (五十字門). A chart of the 50 is shown below. 

 

Jump to outside link with larger table of Japanese - Sanskrit syllables

Courtesy www.kuubokumon.com/bonji.html
Please visit above link for much larger version

Other Sanskrit-Related Sites

Top of Page

LEARN MORE

  • Gods of Hinduism & Counterparts in Japan Nearly all Buddhist deities have a Hindu counterpart. For a listing of 80+ Hindu deities and their Japanese counterparts, please see the TENBU (Skt. = Deva) page. Or view the individual deity pages (see left column). The Sanskrit name for most appears at the top of each individual page.
     
  • Hindu Monkey Deities and Their Impact on Japanese Buddhism. See the Monkey Pages to explore the impact of Hindu monkey lore on Buddhism in Japan.
     
  • Chaudhuri, Saroj Kumar. Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan. Vedams, 2003, xviii, 184 p, ISBN : 81-7936-009-1. See partial preview of book at Google Online Book Preview.

Top of Page

spacer
bottom bar

Copyright 1995 - 2013. Mark Schumacher. Email Mark.
All stories and photos, unless specified otherwise, by Schumacher.
www.onmarkproductions.com     |     make a donation

Please do not copy these pages or photos into Wikipedia or elsewhere without proper citation !