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minzoku NEO-shintô A Book of Little Traditions |
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Buddhist Deities 06/ 12 / 2014
Ranking The relative importance of the various Buddhist Deities
jûni-ten Twelve Heavenly Beings
shi-tennô Four Heavenly Kings (who protect Buddhism from evil)
ai (love, affection, favourite)
zen | sen (dye, color, paint, stain, print) aizen (being drawn to something one loves, amorous passion) myô (wisdom, bright, light) ô (king, ruler) ❖ Buddhist deity ❖ Embodies the idea that earthly desires can be an aspiration to enlightenment; they are not necessarily illusion or cause suffering ❖ Also called aizen-ô
ai (love, affection, favourite)
zen | sen (dye, color, paint, stain, print) aizen (being drawn to something one loves, amorous passion) ô (king, ruler)
a (shadow, shade, corner, nook, recess / ateji)
mi (all the more, increasingly / ateji) da (steep / ateji) amida (Skt: Amitabha) butsu (Skt: Buddha) ❖ Whoever calls his name with faith shall be reborn in a paradise called the Pure Land" ❖ A Mahayana philosophy that represents the "quick path" to enlightenment ❖ For the coming life in paradise ❖ Also called amida, amida nyorai
a (shadow, shade, corner, nook, recess / ateji)
mi (all the more, increasingly / ateji) da (steep / ateji) amida (Skt: Amitabha) a (shadow, shade, corner, nook, recess / ateji) mi (all the more, increasingly / ateji) da (steep / ateji) amida (Skt: Amitabha) nyo (likeness, like, such as, as if, better, best, equal) rai (come, due, next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) ❖ Associated with: the west, element water, sense taste, color red ❖ Converts desire, lust and passion to wisdom of discriminating awareness ❖ One of the godai nyorai
a (flatter, fawn upon, corner, nook, recess / ateji)
shuku (crowd / ateji) ashuku (Skt: Aksobhya) nyo (likeness, like, such as, better, best) rai (next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) ❖ Associated with: the east, element earth, sense sound, color blue ❖ Converts anger and aggression to mirror-like wisdom ❖ One of the godai nyorai
bat | batsu (epilogue, postscript / ateji)
ta (steep / ateji) ba (old woman, grandma, wet nurse / ateji) ra (gauze, thin silk / ateji) battabara (Skt: Bhadrapâla) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ Patron of the bath in zen monastaries
dai (great, large, big)
gen (authority, power, rights) daigen (great protector) shu (discipline, conduct oneself well, study, master) ri (logic, arrangement, reason, justice, truth) shuri (repairing; mending; servicing) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ zen protector of monasteries and Buddhist law
dai (great, large, big)
nichi (sun, day) dainichi (great sun) nyo (likeness, like, such as, better, best) rai (next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) ❖ Buddha represented as the sun ❖ Associated with: the center, element space, sense sight, color white ❖ Converts ignorance and bewilderment to wisdom of universal lawfulness ❖ One of the godai nyorai ❖ Also called daihenjô
dai (great, large, big)
hen (everywhere, times, widely, generally) jô | shô (illuminate, shine)
dai (great, large, big)
i (intimidate, dignity, majesty, menace, threaten) toku (benevolence, virtue, goodness, commanding respect) myô (wisdom, bright, light) ô (king, ruler) ❖ Defier of death ❖ Symbolic of perseverence against resistance ❖ Also called daîtoku bosatsu
dai (great, large, big)
i (intimidate, dignity, majesty, menace, threaten) toku (benevolence, virtue, goodness, commanding respect) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva)
da (a weed / ateji)
ki (trifoliate orange tree, thorny tree used for hedges / ateji) ni (nun / ateji) ten (heavens, sky) ❖ A female or androgynous bosatsu riding a flying white fox ❖ Patoness of magic spells ❖ Frequently conflated with inari ❖ Also called shinko-ô bosatsu, kiko tennô
shin (sign of the dragon)
ko (fox) ô (ruler, king) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ki (precious, value, prize, esteem, honor) ko (fox) ten (heavens, sky) nô (ruler, king)
datsu (rob, take by force, snatch away, dispossess, plunder)
e (garment, clothes) ba (old woman, grandma) datsu (undress, removing, get rid of, take off) e (garment, clothes) ba (old woman, grandma) ❖ Skeletal figure who strips the dead of clothing, as they cross the sanzu-no-kawa (river) or shozukawa at the entrance to the land of the dead ❖ She then hangs the clothing in a leafless tree ❖ Has a male companion/counterpart (See ken'eo) ❖ Also called sanzu no baba, shôzuka no baba, jigoku no baba
san (three)
zu | to (route, way, road) no (possessive particle) baba (old woman, grandma) shûzuka (a reference to the shozukawa?) no (possessive particle) baba (old woman, grandma) ji (ground, earth) goku (prison, jail) no (possessive particle) baba (old woman, grandma)
em | en (town)
ma (witch, demon, evil spirit) ô (ruler, king) emma-ô (Skt: Yama) ❖ Judge of the dead ❖ Ruler of Buddhist hell(s) ❖ (See enma-ten) ❖ Also pronounced enma-ô
fu (tutor)
dai (great, large, big) shi (gentleman, samurai) ❖ Protector of libraries and collections ❖ Also called waraibotoke
wara.i (laughing)
botoke | hotoke (Buddha)
fu (negative, non-)
dô (move, motion, change, shift) myô (wisdom, bright, light) ô (king, ruler) ❖ Deity who controls unclean oni ❖ Also called fudô (fudo), jôjû kongô
fu (negative, non-)
dô (move, motion, change, shift) jô (usual, ordinary, normal, regular) jû (dwell, reside, live, inhabit) jôjû (permanent residence) kon (gold, metal) gô (sturdy, strength) kongô (Skt: Vajra / indestructible substance, diamond, adamantine)
fu (universal, widely, generally)
gen | ken (intelligent, wise, wisdom, cleverness) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ bosatsu of good practice ❖ Appears to those meditating on kyô (Buddhist sutras) ❖ Also called henkitsu
hen (everywhere, times, widely, generally)
kitsu (good luck, joy)
fu (negative, bad, ugly, clumsy)
kû (empty, sky, void, vacant, vacuum) jô (turn into, become, get, grow, elapse, reach) ju (concerning, settle, take position, depart, study, per) nyo (likeness, like, such as, better, best) rai (next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) ❖ Associated with: the north, element air, sense touch, color green ❖ Converts jealousy and envy to wisdom required by karma for its completion ❖ One of the godai nyorai
ge | getsu (moon, month)
ka (below, down) ô (venerable old man) gekka-ô (literally: old man under the moon) ❖ Buddhist deity of marriage ❖ (See enmusubi-no-kami) ❖ Also called gekka rôjin
ge | getsu (moon, month)
ka (below, down) rô (old man, old age) jin (person)
go (five)
dai (great, large, big) nyo (likeness, like, such as, as if, better, best, equal) rai (come, due, next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) ❖ Five Buddha of wisdom or meditation ❖ (See dainichi nyorai, ashuku nyorai, hôshô nyorai, amida nyorai, fukûjôju nyorai) ❖ Also called gochi nyorai
go (five)
chi (wisdom, intellect, reason) nyo (likeness, like, such as, as if, better, best, equal) rai (come, due, next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities)
go (ox, cow)
zu (head) gozu (ox-head sandalwood incense?) ten (heavens, sky) nô (ruler, king) tennô (heavenly king) ❖ Deity of disease and plague ❖ (See yakubyôgami) ❖ Deity of the underworld ❖ Conflated with susano-o-no-mikoto ❖ Also called butô, gion tenjin, tennô
bu (warrior, military, chivalry, arms)
tô (pagoda, tower, steeple) gi (national or local god, peaceful, great) on (park, garden, yard, farm) ten (heavens, sky) jin (kami) ten (heavens, sky) nô (ruler, king) tennô (heavenly king)
hachi (eight)
dai (great, large, big) ryû (dragon) ô (ruler, king) hachi (eight) dai (great, large, big) ryû (dragon) ô (ruler, king) ❖ Eight great dragon kings ❖ (See ryûjin)
hô (treasure, wealth, valuables)
shô (life, genuine, birth) nyo (likeness, like, such as, as if, better, best, equal) rai (come, due, next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) ❖ Associated with: the south, element fire, sense smell, color yellow ❖ Converts pride and greed to wisdom of ultimate equality of all living creatures ❖ One of the godai nyorai
i (tanned leather)
da (burdensome, pack horse, horse load, send by horse) ten (heavens, sky) i (difference, differ) da (burdensome, pack horse, horse load, send by horse) ten (heavens, sky) ❖ Protecting deity of kitchens, meals, and nourishment in some zen sects ❖ Protects monks and monasteries
ji (ground, earth)
zô (storehouse, hide, own, have, possess) Jizô (Skt: Ksitigarbha) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ A friend to all, never frightening even to children ❖ For salvation from hell ❖ Especially helps children trying to escape from jigoku ❖ Also called jizô (jizo), daigan jizô, shôgun jizô
ji (ground, earth)
zô (storehouse, hide, own, have, possess) Jizô (Skt: Ksitigarbha) dai (great, large, big) gan (hope, petition, request, vow, wish) ji (ground, earth) zô (storehouse, hide, own, have, possess) Jizô (Skt: Ksitigarbha) shô (victory, win, prevail, excel) gun (army, force, troops, war, battle) shôgun (general) ji (ground, earth) zô (storehouse, hide, own, have, possess) Jizô (Skt: Ksitigarbha) ❖ Martial aspect of jizô
jû (ten)
roku (six) ra (gauze, thin silk) kan (China) rakan (Skt: Arhats, Jap: arakan achiever of Nirvana) ❖ The sixteen Buddhist saints ❖ Perfect examples of the monastic way of life
kan (outlook, look, appearance, condition, view)
non (sound, noise) kannon (Buddhist deity of mercy; Goddess of Mercy) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ Skt: Avalokitasvara translated to Chin: Guan Yin / Quan Yin ❖ Originally male ❖ She personifies compassion ❖ Symbol of the divine feminine, the divine mother ❖ For salvation in earthly life ❖ The number 33 is sacred to her ❖ Also called kannon, kanjizai, kanzeon, kôzeon
kan (outlook, look, appearance, condition, view)
non (sound, noise) kannon (Buddhist deity of mercy; Goddess of Mercy) kan (outlook, look, appearance, condition, view) ji (oneself) zai (exist) kan (outlook, look, appearance, condition, view) ze | se (generation, world, society, public) on (sound, noise) kô (light, ray) ze | se (generation, world, society, public) on (sound, noise)
jû (ten)
ichci (one) jûichi (eleven) men (mask, face, features, surface) jûichimen (eleven-faced) kan (outlook, look, appearance, condition, view) non (sound, noise) kannon (Buddhist deity of mercy; Goddess of Mercy) ❖ Skt: Ekadasamukha (eleven-faced Avalokitesvara) ❖ Eleven-faced Goddess of Mercy ❖ Also called jûichimen kanzeon
jû (ten)
ichci (one) jûichi (eleven) men (mask, face, features, surface) jûichimen (eleven-faced) kan (outlook, look, appearance, condition, view) ze | se (generation, world, society, public) on (sound, noise)
ken (suspend, hang, install)
e (garment, clothes, dressing) o or ô (venerable old man) ❖ Skeletal figure who strips the dead of clothing, as they cross the sanzu-no-kawa (river) or shozukawa at the entrance to the land of the dead ❖ He then hangs the clothing in a leafless tree ❖ Has a female companion/counterpart (See datsueba) ❖ Also pronounced Ken'eô
ki (ghost, devil)
shi (child) mo | bo (mama, mother) jin (kami) ❖ Goddess of childbirth and children ❖ Also pronounced kishibojin ❖ Also called kangimo
kan (delight, joy)
gi | ki (rejoice, take pleasure in) mo (mama, mother)
ko (void, emptiness)
kû (empty, sky, void, vacant, vacuum) zô (storehouse, own, have, possess) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ bosatsu of space and potential, memory, and wisdom ❖ Also called kokûyô bosatsu
ko (void, emptiness)
kû (empty, sky, void, vacant, vacuum) yô (become pregnant) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva)
ku | kô (very, great, exceedingly)
jaku (sparrow) kujaku (peacock) myô (wisdom, bright, light) ô (king, ruler) ❖ Technically being female, a myô-hi (wisdom queen) ❖ Wards off evil from poisoning or calamity ❖ Prayed to in times of drought, poisoning, and disaster ❖ Rides a peacock ❖ Also called kujaku myôhi, kujaku butsumo bosatsu
ku | kô (very, great, exceedingly)
jaku (sparrow) kujaku (peacock) myô (wisdom, bright, light) hi (queen, princess) ku | kô (very, great, exceedingly) jaku (sparrow) kujaku (peacock) butsu (Skt: Buddha) mo (mother) butsumo (mother of buddhas) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva)
ma (rub, polish, grind / ateji)
ri (profit, advantage, benefit / ateji) shi (branch, support, sustain / ateji) ten (heavens, sky) ❖ Transliteration of (Skt: Marîci) ❖ Protects against all violence and peril ❖ Deity of wealth and prosperity ❖ Also called marishi
ma (rub, polish, grind / ateji)
ri (profit, advantage, benefit / ateji) shi (branch, support, sustain / ateji)
mi (all the more, increasingly)
roku (halter and bit) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ The future bosatsu ❖ Also called jishi
ji (mercy)
shi (family name, surname, clan) jishi (compassionate one)
mon (sentence, literature, style, art, decoration, figures, plan)
ju | shu (particularly, especially, exceptionally) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ bosatsu of Wisdom ❖ The Voice of Buddhist Law
ni (virtue, benevolence)
ô (ruler, king) ❖ A pair of protectors who guard against evil outside the temple gate at Japanese Buddhist temples ❖ Similar to the koma inu at the entrance to a shintô shrine ❖ Also called ninô
ni (two)
nô (ruler, king)
a (flatter, fawn / ateji)
gyô (shape, form, style) ❖ Located on the left side of the entrance with mouth open ❖ Also called kongô rikishi
kon (gold, metal)
gô (sturdy, strength) kongô (Skt: Vajra indestructible substance, diamond, adamantine, thunderbolt, Indra's weapon, Buddhist symbol of the indestructible truth) riki (power, strong, strain, bear up, exert) shi (gentleman, samurai) rikishi (sumo wrestler, strong man)
un (bark, growl / ateji)
gyô (shape, form, style) ❖ Located on the right side of the entrance with mouth closed ❖ Also called misshaku rikishi
mis | mitsu (secrecy, minuteness, carefulness)
shaku | sha (intercept, interrupt, obstruct) riki (power, strong, strain, bear up, exert) shi (gentleman, samurai) rikishi (sumo wrestler, strong man)
(orge, demon, ghost)
❖ They serve in jigoku under emma-ô to punish sentenced wrongdoers to expiate their sins ❖ (See oni yôkai)
roku (six)
ji (syllable) myô (wisdom, bright, light) ô (king, ruler) ❖ Guardian of the foundation of Buddhist law
roku (six)
ji (syllable) dai (great, large, big) myô (wisdom, bright, light) ju (spell, charm) ❖ The six syllables of the Buddhist creed om ma-ni pad-me hum
sei (forces, energy, military strength)
shi (climax, arrive, proceed, reach, attain, result in) bo (sacred tree) satsu (Skt: Buddha) bosatsu (Skt: Bodhisattva) ❖ bosatsu of Strength and Vigor
sha (explanation / ateji)
ka (ateji) shaka (Skt: Sakyamuni sage of the Sakyas) sha | shaku (explain / ateji) ka (ateji) shaka (Skt: Sakyamuni sage of the Sakyas) ❖ The historical Buddha Gautama Siddhartha ❖ Also called shaka nyorai, shakamon, shakamoni, shakamuni, shakukamuni butsu, kudon shittatta
sha (explanation / ateji)
ka (ateji) nyo (likeness, like, such as, better, best) rai (next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) sha (explanation / ateji) ka (ateji) mon (sentence, literature / ateji) sha | shaku (explain / ateji) ka (attending, entertainer / ateji) mon (sentence, literature / ateji) sha | shaku (explain / ateji) ka (ateji) mon (sentence, literature / ateji) ni (nun / ateji) sha (explanation / ateji) ka (ateji) mun (pupil (eye) / ateji) ni (nun / ateji) sha | shaku (explain / ateji) ka (ateji) mun (pupil (eye) / ateji) ni (nun / ateji) butsu (France / ateji) ku (surname) don (cloudy weather, cloud up / ateji) kudon (Gautama the family name of Buddha) shit | shitsu (all, completely / ateji) tat | tatsu (accomplished, attain / ateji) ta (many, frequent, much / ateji) shittatta (Shiddaruta / Siddhartha)
shô (holy, saint, sage, master, priest)
ten (heavens, sky) shôten (Skt. Ganesha) ❖ Deity of wealth ❖ Also called kangi-ten
kan (delight, joy)
gi | ki (rejoice, take pleasure in) ten (heavens, sky)
u (crow, raven)
sû (hinge, pivot, door) sa (sand) ma (chafe, rub, polish, grind, scrape) myô (wisdom, bright, light) ô (king, ruler) ❖ Heavenly king responsible for purifiction from material pollution, especially those associated with child birth ❖ Guardian of the benjo (toilet) ❖ (See benjo-gami) ❖ Also called usûshima
u (crow, raven)
sû (grass cutting, hay) shi | shibu (astringent, have diarrhea) ma (chafe, rub, polish, grind, scrape)
yaku (medicine, chemical)
shi (expert, teacher, master) nyo (likeness, like, such as, as if, better, best, equal) rai (come, due, next, cause, become) nyorai (Skt: Tathagata perfected one / suffix of high-ranking Buddhist deities) ❖ Master of remedies / medicine |
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