Thirteen Buddhas

File:Thirteen Buddhist Deities, Japan, Nambokucho-Muromachi period, c. 1336-1568, ink, color, gold on silk - Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon - Eugene, Oregon - DSC09367.jpg

Thirteen Buddhist Deities, Japan, Nambokucho-Muromachi period, c. 1336-1568

The is a Japanese grouping of Buddhist deities, particularly in the Shingon and Tendai sects of Buddhism. The deities are, in fact, not only Buddhas, but also include bodhisattvas. In Shingon services, lay followers recite a devotional mantra to each figure, though in Shingon practice, disciples will typically devote themselves to only one, depending on what the teacher assigns. The chanting of the mantras of the Thirteen Buddhas is a basic practice followed by Shingon and Tendai lay followers. They are also important in funeral and apotropaic / protective rituals.

Funeral rituals

The Thirteen Buddhas are also an important part of a traditional Japanese Buddhist funeral service, with each deity having a corresponding memorial service for the deceased. The names of the thirteen figures are given below in Japanese and Sanskrit and the corresponding date of their service after the death:

1. Fudō (Acala), 7th day
2. Shaka (Sakyamuni), 14th day
3. Monju (Manjushri), 21st day
4. Fugen (Samantabhadra), 28th day
5. Jizō (Ksitigarbha), 35th day
6. Miroku (Maitreya), 42nd day
7. Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru), 49th day
8. Kannon (Avalokitesvara), 100th day
9. Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta), 1st anniversary
10. Amida (Amitabha), 2nd anniversary
11. Ashuku (Akshobhya), 6th anniversary
12. Dainichi (Vairocana), 12th anniversary
13. Kokūzō (Akasagarbha), 32nd anniversary

Mantras

File:Thirteenbuddhaskakejiku.jpg

A modern depiction of the thirteen Buddhas in a Japanese hanging scroll (kakejiku)

While the thirteen figures have several mantras associated to each respectively, those listed below pertain to the standard formula used in Japanese ritual. The Shingon and Tendai schools each use a different method of transliteration of the original Sanskrit. Bhaisajyaguru is the only figure whose mantra fundamentally differs between traditions.

1. Fudōmyōō (, Acala):

   (Sanskrit) namaḥ samanta vajrāṇāṃ caṇḍa mahāroṣaṇa sphoṭaya hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ

   (Shingon) nōmaku sanmanda bazara dan senda makaroshada sowataya un tarata kanman

   ()

   (Tendai) namaku samanda bazaranan senda makaroshana sowataya un tarata kanman

   ()

2. Shaka nyorai (, Sakyamuni):

   (Sanskrit) namaḥ samanta buddhānāṃ bhaḥ

   (Shingon) nōmaku sanmanda bodanan baku ()

   (Tendai) namaku samanda bodanan ba ()

3. Monju bosatsu (, Manjushri):

   (Sanskrit) oṃ a ra pa ca na

   (Shingon) on arahashanō ()

   (Tendai) on a ra ha sha na ()

4. Fugen bosatsu (, Samantabhadra):

   (Sanskrit) oṃ samayas tvaṃ

   (Shingon) on sanmaya satoban ()

   (Tendai) on samaya sataban ()

5. Jizō bosatsu (, Ksitigarbha):

   (Sanskrit) oṃ ha ha ha vismaye svāhā

   (Shingon) on kakaka bisanmaei sowaka ()

   (Tendai) on kakakabi samaei sowaka ()

6. Miroku bosatsu (, Maitreya):

   (Sanskrit) oṃ maitreya svāhā

   (Shingon) on maitareiya sowaka ()

   (Tendai) on maitariya sowaka ()

7. Yakushi nyorai (, Bhaisajyaguru):

   (Sanskrit) oṃ huru huru caṇḍāli mātangi svāhā

   (Shingon) on korokoro sendari matōgi sowaka ()

   (Sanskrit) oṃ bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajye bhaiṣajya samudgate svāhā

   (Tendai) on baiseizeibaiseizei baiseijasanborgyatei sowaka (

8. Kanzeon bosatsu (, Avalokitesvara):

   (Sanskrit) oṃ ārolik svāhā

   (Shingon) on arorikya sowaka ()

   (Tendai) on arorikya sowaka ()

9. Seishi bosatsu (, Mahasthamaprapta):

   (Sanskrit) oṃ saṃ jaṃ jaṃ saḥ svāhā

   (Shingon) on san zan saku sowaka ()

   (Tendai) on sanzen zensaku sowaka ()

10. Amida nyorai (, Amitabha):

    (Sanskrit) oṃ amṛta teje hara hūṃ

    (Shingon) on amirita teisei kara un ()

    (Tendai) on amirita teisei kara un ()

11. Ashuku nyorai (, Akshobhya):

    (Sanskrit) oṃ akṣobhya hūṃ

    (Shingon) on akishubiya un ()

    (Tendai) on akishubiya un ()

12. Dainichi nyorai (, Vairocana):

    (Sanskrit) oṃ a vi ra hūṃ khaṃ vajradhātu vaṃ

    (Shingon) on abiraunken basara datoban ()

    (Tendai) on abiraunken basara datoban ()

13. Kokūzō bosatsu (, Akashagarbha):

    (Sanskrit) namo ākāśagarbhāya oṃ ārya kāmāri mauli svāhā

    (Shingon) nōbō akyashakyarabaya on arikya mari bori sowaka ()

    (Tendai) namo akyashagerubaya onarikya maribori sowaka ()

Zodiac

Eight of the thirteen figures are traditionally assigned as guardians of the twelve Earthly Branches of the Chinese zodiac.

Earthly branch	Guardian
Rat	Kannon (Avalokitesvara)
Ox	Kokuzo (Akasagarbha)
Tiger	Kokuzo (Akasagarbha)
Rabbit	Monju (Manjushri)
Dragon	Fugen (Samantabhadra)
Snake	Fugen (Samantabhadra)
Horse	Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta)
Goat	Dainichi (Vairocana)
Monkey	Dainichi (Vairocana)
Rooster	Fudo (Acala)
Dog	Amida (Amitabha)
Pig	Amida (Amitabha)

See also

• Thirteen Buddhas of Anan
• Thirteen Buddhas of Awaji Island
• Thirteen Buddhas of Chichibu
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Dewa
• Thirteen Buddhas of Hokkaido
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Iyo
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Izumo
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Kamakura
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Kobe
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Kyoto
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Musashi
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Osaka
• Thirteen Buddhas of Tama
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Yamagata
• Thirteen Buddhist Sites of Yamato