Konpon Daito, the "Basic Great Pagoda", according to Shingon Buddhist doctrine
represents the central point of a mandala covering all of Japan. Standing at
48.5 meters tall and situated right in the middle of Kōyasan, this pagoda was
built as a seminary for the esoteric practices of Shingon Buddhism.
Kobo Daishi and his successor Shinzen Daitoku devoted themselves to the
construction of this pagoda, which took from 816 through 887. Kobo Daishi
referred to this pagoda as a representation of the universe, and, as it played
a role as the central training hall (dojo) for the Shingon Sect, it was
called the Konpon (principal) Daito.
This is believed to be Japan’s first square two-storied pagoda. It enshrines
an image of Vairocana in the Womb Realm and is surrounded by four Buddhist
figures from the Diamond Realm. The sixteen pillars that support it are
inscribed with images of sixteen boddhisatvas, drawn by Insho Domoto. Images
of the eight patriarchs who spread the teachings of esoteric Buddhism can be
found in the four corners of the interior, with the inside of the pagoda
itself forming a mandala.
|
Exterior of Kompon Daito Pagoda.
Kompon Daito is the symbol of enlightenment in Mikkyo, the esoteric
Buddhist teaching originally conceived by Kobo Daishi.
-
The stupa is built in the form of a tahoto, a one-story pagoda,
about 50 m high and lacquered in red.
|
|
Inside Kompon Daito Pagoda.
Inside is the construction of a three-dimensional Mandala composed of
the main Cosmic Buddha (Dainichi Nyorai) of the Womb World (Taizokai
Mandala) placed in the center and surrounded with four Wisdom Buddhas of
the Diamond World (Kongokai Mandala).
-
The Diamond World (Kongokai Mandala) represents the Cosmic or
Transcendental Buddha (Dainichi Nyorai), while the Womb World
(Taizokai Mandala) represents the world of physical phenomenon.
-
The Cosmic Buddha (Dainichi Nyorai) is typically surrounded by four
other Buddha, each representing one of the directions of the compass.
-
On the pillars the 16 Mahabodhisattvas as well of the Diamond World
(Kongokai Mandala) are painted colourfully, expressing in this form
the Diamond World, the world of enlightenment.
|
|
Fudo Myoo statue (Acala).
Fudo Myoo (Acala), was never popular in Indian, Tibetan or even Chinese
Buddhism, but in Japan it became the object of a flourishing cult with
esoteric overtones.
-
The cult of Acala was first brought to Japan by the esoteric master
Kūkai, the founder of the Shingon school, and his successors, where it
developed as part of the growing popularity of rituals for the
protection of the state.
-
While Acala was at first simply regarded as the
primus inter pares among the five wisdom kings, he gradually
became a focus of worship in his own right, subsuming characteristics
of the other four vidyarajas (who came to be perceived as
emanating from him), and became installed as the main deity
(honzon) at many temples and outdoor shrines.
-
Acala, as a powerful vanquisher of evil, was regarded both as a
protector of the imperial court and the nation as a whole (in which
capacity he was invoked during state-sponsored rituals) and the
personal guardian of ritual practitioners.
-
At temples dedicated to Acala, priests perform the Fudo-ho, or ritual
service to enlist the deity's power of purification to benefit the
faithful. This rite routinely involves the use of the Homa fire ritual
(goma) as a purification tool.
-
See more at
Acala - Wikipedia.
|
|
Kukai, Kannon and Fudo.
Kukai (27 July 774 – 22 April 835), born Saeki no Mao, posthumously
called Kobo Daishi ("The Grand Master who Propagated the Dharma"), was a
Japanese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and poet who founded the esoteric
Shingon school of Buddhism.
-
He travelled to China, where he studied Tangmi (Chinese Vajrayana
Buddhism) under the monk Huiguo.
-
Upon returning to Japan, he founded Shingon—the Japanese branch of
Vajrayana Buddhism.
-
With the blessing of several Emperors, Kukai was able to preach
Shingon teachings and found Shingon temples.
-
Mount Koya was chosen by him as a holy site, and he spent his later
years there until his death in 835 C.E.
-
Kukai's vision was that Mt. Koya was to become a representation of the
Mandala of the Two Realms that form the basis of Shingon Buddhism: the
central plateau as the Womb Realm mandala, with the peaks surrounding
the area as petals of a lotus; and located in the centre of this would
be the Diamond Realm mandala in the form of a temple which he named
Kongobu-ji ("Diamond Peak Temple"). At the center of the temple
complex sits an enormous statue of Vairocana, who is the
personification of Ultimate Reality.
-
See more at
Kūkai - Wikipedia.
|
See also
Source
Location
