| So like a lot of viewers not that familiar with Japanese Buddhism I struggle a bit with this anime. For example I was like "who is this nyorai family and how come I've never heard of it?". Firs of all I found a detailed website that is more centralised than wikipedia so feel free to check it out: http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/mandala-deities.html#13 For those not that interested in extensive reading, here's what I've learned so far: - the 13 divinities classification thing isn't just a general Buddhist thing but a Shingon sect thing specifically - 13 is for 5 nyorai, 7 bosatsu and 1 myouou or wisdom king Fudou = Acala - Nyorai: gochi nyorai or 5 wisdom Buddhas, nyorai means Tathagata or perfected one (a qualifier for those who have reached enlightenment), and is a suffix applied to the highest ranking of deities. Shaka = Shakyamuni Dainichi = Vairocana Amida = Amithaba Ashuku = Akshobhya Yakushi = Bhaisajyaguru - Bosatsu: bodhisattva or a being not yet a Buddha that has vowed to save all beings, obviously a lower rank than the nyorai. Monju = Manjusri Fugen = Samantabhadra Kannon = Avalokitesvara Seishi = Mahasthamaprapta Miroku = Maitreya Jizou = Ksitigarbha Kokuuzou = Akasagarbha - Ten: deva or even lower divine being, especially popular in Japan because they resemble the concept of kami (namely a manifestation of natural/surnatural force of existence); 3 in the anime so far. Bonten = Brahma-deva Taishakuten = Indra-deva Karuraten = Garuda-deva Ashura is called Ashura ou (king) in the credits. By definition an ashura is a bad deva. And if anyone knows what is the weird looking moray hanging around Kokuuzou that would be helpful, can't seem to find anything about it. |
EratiKMay 13, 2019 5:48 AM
 |
| Thanks for the info! I'd done a little bit of searching myself but seeing it all condensed like this is super helpful. I used this site as a reference too: http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/jusanbutsu.html Although, the whole concept feels suuuuper sacrilegious; I'm nowhere near Buddhist and although I'm enjoying the series, I feel a little weirded out about it, like watching an anime about the 12 disciples or Catholic saints. I wonder what the reception of the game/anime in Japan is like? |
 |
More topics from this board
Poll: » Namu Amida Butsu!: Rendai Utena Episode 12 Discussionstriperrela - Jun 24, 2019 |
7 |
by OberonFelsach
»»
Oct 1, 2023 6:13 PM |
|
Poll: » Namu Amida Butsu!: Rendai Utena Episode 7 DiscussionKitty-Kate - May 20, 2019 |
15 |
by OberonFelsach
»»
Oct 1, 2023 5:09 PM |
|
Poll: » Namu Amida Butsu!: Rendai Utena Episode 11 DiscussionEratiK - Jun 17, 2019 |
4 |
by matias067
»»
Jun 20, 2019 1:42 AM |
|
Poll: » Namu Amida Butsu!: Rendai Utena Episode 10 DiscussionEratiK - Jun 10, 2019 |
2 |
by w_i_t_d
»»
Jun 10, 2019 9:30 PM |
|
Poll: » Namu Amida Butsu!: Rendai Utena Episode 9 DiscussionEratiK - Jun 3, 2019 |
2 |
by w_i_t_d
»»
Jun 3, 2019 9:09 PM |