Five Buddhas
five Buddhas
五仏 (Jpn go-butsu )
Buddhas depicted on the Diamond Realm and Womb Realm mandalas, the two objects of devotion in the True Word (Jpn Shingon) school. The five Buddhas on the Diamond Realm mandala are Mahavairochana in the center, Akshobhya in the east, Jewel Born in the south, Amida (also known as Infinite Life) in the west, and Infallible Realization in the north.
The five Buddhas on the Womb Realm mandala are Mahavairochana in the center, Jeweled Banner in the east, Florescence King in the south, Infinite Life (Amida) in the west, and Heavenly Drum Thunder in the north.
In either case, the four Buddhas of the four directions represent the attributes of Mahavairochana, whom the True Word school holds to be all-encompassing.
See also five wisdom Buddhas.
