DAINICHI BUDDHA
Dainichi 大日 = Lit. "Great Sun”

Dainich Mantra (Kongōkai Mandala) = On Basaradatoban


Dainich Mantra (Taizōkai Mandala) = Abiraunken

OVERVIEW. Dainichi Buddha (Sanskrit = Vairocana or Maha Vairocana) represents the center (zenith) among Japan's esoteric sects. Esoteric Buddhism (Jp. = Mikkyō 密教) is another term for Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism, one of the three main schools of Buddhism in Asia, most widely practiced today in Tibet. The other two forms are Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana is the mainstream in Japan, but the country's Shingon and Tendai sects are still strongholds of esoteric traditions, especially the Shingon sect.

As early as the Heian Period (794 - 1192 AD), devotees of Esoteric Buddhism in Japan worshipped Dainichi as the Central Buddha of the Universe, the Cosmic Buddha, the supreme deity of Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. But, prior to the intro of Esotoric Buddhism to Japan in the early 9th century, Dainichi was known as Birushana 昆盧遮那 (transliterated from Sanskrit “Vairocana”) or as Makabirushana 摩訶昆盧遮那 (transliterated from Sanskrit “Mahavairocana”). Indeed, a giant statue of Birushana was constructed in 752 AD in Nara, which is none other than the world-famous Nara Daibutsu (Big Buddha of Nara).

Dainichi generally supplants the Historical Buddha as the object of veneration among Japan's esoteric practitioners. Indeed, in Japan's Esoteric traditions, Dainichi is the most important of all the myriad Buddha. In fact, Dainichi is said to be everywhere and everything, like the air we breathe, with all other Buddha and divine beings considered as emanations of Dainichi. Dainichi is also one of the 13 Deities 十三仏 (Jūsanbutsu) of Japan’s Shingon Sect. In this role, Dainichi presides over the memorial service held on the 12th-year anniversary following one's death.

Dainichi’s Messengers. Images of Dainichi in Japan are also often surrounded by the Myō-ō, multi-armed and multi-headed protectors who represent Dainichi's wrath against evil and serve as Dainichi’s messengers.

Dainichi in Japanese Mandala (Mandara). Dainichi is the central figure in mandalas of the Shingon Sect of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. In mandala scrolls and in paintings, Dainichi is typically surrounded by four other Buddha, each representing one of the directions of the compass. The five, with Dainichi Nyorai at the center, are known as the Five Tathagatas (Jp. = Gochi Nyorai). The most widely known mandala form in Japan is the Ryōkai Mandala (Two World Mandala, Ryokai, Ryoukai). Sometimes also written as the Ryōgai Mandala. It is composed of two separate mandala, which together represent the central devotional images of Esoteric Buddhism. The Taizōkai Mandala 胎蔵界 (Womb World Mandala, Sanskrit = Garbhadhatu) is based on the Dainichikyō Sutra (Jp), while the Kongōkai Mandala 金剛界 (Diamond World Mandala, Sanskrit = Vajradhatu) is based on the Kongōchōkyō Sutra (Jp). Even today, in Japanese Shingon temples, two large mandalas are typically mounted on both sides of the main image platform. The mandala on the east side is the Kongoukai Mandala, and the mandala on the west side is the Taizoukai Mandala. The Kongokai mandala represents the cosmic or transcendental Buddha (aka Dainichi Nyorai), while the Taizokai mandala represents the world of physical phenomenon.

Dainichi’s Mudra (Hand Gesture). Dainichi’s characteristic hand gesture in Japan (although not always) is the Mudra of Six Elements (Jp. = Chiken-in 智拳印) -- also called the Knowledge Fist Mudra. In this mudra, the index finger of the left hand is clasped by the five fingers of the right. This mudra symbolizes the unity of the five worldly elements -- earth, water, fire, air/wind, and space/void -- with spiritual consciousness. For a review of the most common mudra in Japan, please visit the Mudra page. For more on the Six Element Mudra, see below.

Dainichi Buddha 大日如来 by Unkei 運慶
Unkei’s earliest known work. Lacquer & gold leaf over wood.
Height = 101 cm. Dated +1176. Enjoji (Enjōji) Temple 円成寺 in Nara
Photo courtesy Handbook on Viewing Buddhist Statues.
By author Ishii Ayako. ISBN 4-262-15695-8. Japanese only.

Dainichi Buddha (Nyorai) Sitting Atop Lotus
Statue Available for Online Purchase

DAINICHI - Various English Translations

• Cosmic Buddha, Buddha of Cosmic Life
• Great Illuminating One, Great Universally Illuminating One
• All-Encompassing Buddha, All-Encompassing Lord of the Cosmos
• Life Force That Illuminates the Universe
• Spreader of Light in All Directions
• Great Solar Buddha of Light and Truth
• Great Sun Buddha, Resplendent One
• Radiant Preacher, Luminous One
• Identified with Birushana Buddha (Skt. Vairocana). Indeed, Dainichi is the translation of Vairocana, while Birushana 昆盧遮那 is the transliteration of Vairocana. The direct translation of DAINICHI BUDDHA is “Great Sun Buddha.” The Sanskrit term Vairocana means "luminous one" or “embodiment of light” or "belonging to or coming from the sun." Vairocana represents the essential spiritual body of Buddha-truth (akin to light pervading everywhere).
• Especially important to Japan's Shingon Sect of Esoteric Buddhism
• Central deity among the Five Tathagata (Jp. = Godai Nyorai); these five appear frequently in Japanese mandalas, with Dainichi positioned in the center, surrounded by the other four, with each representing one of the cardinal directions.
• Dainichi's messengers are the Myo-o; also see Fudo page
• Guardian of People Born in the Zodiac Year of the Sheep and the Monkey.
  Who is Your Patron Deity? Click Here to Find Out.

DAINICHI ARTWORK IN JAPAN
Appears as central figure in Japanese Mandala
Unlike most statues of the various Buddha (Nyorai) in Japan (which are simple and unadorned), images of Dainichi Buddha are typically depicted in the guise of a Bodhisattva -- with elaborately arranged hair topped with a crown, and wearing richly jeweled ornaments or garments. In addition, Dainichi in Japan appears in different forms based on the iconography of either the Womb World Mandala (Jp. = Taizoukai) or Diamond World Mandala (Jp. = Kongoukai), in which Dainichi is frequently portrayed (see Mandala Page). The mandala art form is especially important to Japan’s Shingon sect of Esoteric Buddhism, and Dainichi is their central object of worship.

Dainichi Buddha corresponds to the Historical Buddha's first turning of the Wheel of the Law in Deer Park in India, where the Historical Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The Turning of the Wheel is a metaphor for teaching the way of enlightenment. Images of Dainichi are accordingly represented often with the preaching-hands gesture, called the Dharmacakra Mudra (Sanskrit; Jp. = Hokai Jo-in). See Mudra Page for more details. In both Japan and Korea, however, Dainichi's hands are more often depicted in the Mudra of Six Elements, which is also called the "Mudra of the Fist of Wisdom," the "Wisdom Mudra," or the “Knowledge Fist Mudra.” It is known as Chiken-in 智拳印 (ちけんいん) in Japan. 

SIX ELEMENTS 六界
(Jp. = Rokukai  ろくかい )
In Esoteric Buddhism, the five elements (Jp. = Goshiki 五行) are combined with one additional element, the MIND, for a total of six. Statues or paintings of Dainichi Buddha, the central deity of Esoteric Buddhism in Japan, often portray Dainichi with a characteristic hand gesture called the Mudra of Six Elements (Chiken-in 智拳印), in which the index finger of the left hand is clasped by the five fingers of the right. This mudra symbolizes the unity of the five worldly elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) with a six element, spiritual consciousness. Others equate the left hand with the male organ and the right hand with the female organ, and maintain that it represents, by means of sexual symbolism, the central deity of the mandala from which all the other deities emanate. According to another interpretation, the left hand represents sentient beings and the right hand the Buddha, and thus symbolizes the two-way response of the Buddha and sentient beings.

In the Mandala artform, which is of special importance to Japan’s Esoteric sects (Shingon, Tendai), the five elements are considered inanimate (this equates to the Garbhadhatu or Womb World Mandala). Only by adding the sixth element -- mind, perception, or spiritual consciousness -- do the five become animate. This equates with the Vajradhatu or Diamond World Mandala. Phrased differently, there is “unity” only when the sixth element is added. Without the sixth element, ordinary eyes see only the differentiated forms or appearances.

1. Earth
2. Water
3. Fire
4. Air (or Wind)
5. Space
6. the MIND (spiritual consciousness or perception)
    

DAINICHI NYORAI
An exception to the rule
Images of the Nyorai (Buddha, Tathagata) are rarely shown wearing jewellery or ornaments, but this is not always the case. Dainichi Nyorai, in fact, is one of the exceptions to the rule. Not only does the mudra of six elements help to identify Dai Nichi, but also images of Dai Nichi often show the deity wearing a crown and jewels.

One of the most famous examples of Dainichi can be found at Tōdai-ji in Nara (see photo at right). This is the world-famous Daibutsu of Nara, supposedly the largest bronze statue in the world. But it is actually Birushana Nyorai, not Dainichi Nyorai -- the two are manifestations of the same deity, and different sects give the deity different names. It is likely that Dainichi was “derived” from Birushana. Click here for more on Birushana and a history of the Big Buddha of Nara.

DAINICHI - The Cosmic Buddha and Mandalas
Below text courtesy of: Ancient Japan Gallery
Esoteric Buddhism was founded on the principle that the two aspects of Buddha, both the unchanging cosmic principle and the active, physical manifestation of Buddha in the natural world, were one and the same. The truth of the cosmic order, which is contained in the relationships between the Cosmic Buddha and all his manifestations, cannot be known verbally.

One method for understanding this truth was to comprehend it visually and symbolically; to this end, Japanese esoteric Buddhists imported the mandala (in Japanese, mandara), or circle, to express symbolically the order of the universe related to the cosmic Buddha. Since the Buddha occupied two separate realms, the mandala form that the esoteric priests imported was the Mandala of the Two Worlds, or Ryokai mandara (Ryo=two, kai=world, mandara=mandala). On the east side of the temple would be placed the Diamond World (Kongokai in Japanese, Vajradhatu in Sanskrit), which represented the world of the transcendental Buddha. It was called the Diamond World because it embodied a static, crystal clear, and adamantine truth of the universe. In the Diamond World, the Cosmic Buddha (Dainichi Nyorai in Japanese), sits in the center of assemblies of Buddhas arranged in a three by three square.