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{{Short description|Metaphysical space in Vajrayana Buddhism}}
[[File:Kongokai.jpg|thumb|Diamond Realm Mandala]]
[[File:Kongokai.jpg|thumb|Diamond Realm Mandala in [[Chinese Esoteric Buddhism|Tangmi]] and [[Shingon Buddhism|Shingon]]]]
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In [[Vajrayana]] Buddhism, the '''Diamond Realm''' ([[Sanskrit|Skt.]] वज्धातु ''vajradhātu'', [[Japanese language|Jp.]] 金剛界 ''kongōkai'') is a metaphysical space inhabited by the [[Five Wisdom Buddhas]]. The Diamond Realm Mandala is based on an esoteric Buddhist [[sutra]] called the [[Vajrasekhara Sutra]].
[[File:Mandala of Vajradhatu.JPG|thumb|Tibetan painting of Vajradhatu]]
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In [[Vajrayana]] Buddhism, the '''Diamond Realm''' ([[Sanskrit|Skt.]] वज्रधातु ''vajradhātu'', [[Traditional Chinese characters|Traditional Chinese]]: 金剛界; [[Pinyin]]: ''Jīngāngjiè''; [[Romanization of Japanese|Romaji]]: ''Kongōkai'') is a metaphysical space inhabited by the [[Five Tathagatas]]. The Diamond Realm Mandala is based on an esoteric Buddhist [[sutra]] called the ''[[Vajrasekhara Sutra]]''.


The Diamond Realm is a very popular subject for [[mandala]]s, and along with the [[Womb Realm]] (''Garbhakosa'') Mandala forms the [[Mandala of the Two Realms]]. This mandala, along with the Womb Realm, form the core of Japanese esoteric, or [[Shingon]] Buddhist, rituals, including the initiation or [[abhisheka]] ritual. In this ritual, new initiates are blindfolded, and are asked to toss a flower upon a mandala. Where the flower lands helps decide which Buddhist figure the student should devote themselves to.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hakeda | first = Yoshito S. | title = Kūkai and His Major Works | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1972 | isbn = 0-231-05933-7 | pages=44}}</ref>
The Diamond Realm is a very popular subject for [[mandala]]s, and along with the [[Womb Realm]] (''garbhakoṣadhātu'') Mandala forms the [[Mandala of the Two Realms]]. This mandala, along with the Womb Realm, form the core of Chinese [[Chinese Esoteric Buddhism|Tangmi]] and Japanese [[Shingon Buddhism|Shingon]] rituals, including the initiation or [[abhiṣeka]] ritual. In this ritual, new initiates are blindfolded, and are asked to toss a flower upon a mandala. Where the flower lands helps decide which Buddhist figure the student should devote themselves to.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hakeda | first = Yoshito S. | title = Kūkai and His Major Works | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1972 | isbn = 0-231-05933-7 | pages=44}}</ref>


In traditional [[Shingon]] Buddhist halls, the Diamond Realm Mandala is hung on the west wall symbolizing the final realization of [[Vairocana|Mahāvairocana]] Buddha.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hakeda | first = Yoshito S. | title = Kūkai and His Major Works | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1972 | isbn = 0-231-05933-7 | pages=87}}</ref> In this setting, the Womb Realm Mandala is hung on the east wall, symbolizing the young stage of [[Vairocana|Mahāvairocana]] Buddha.
In traditional Tangmi and Shingon halls, the Diamond Realm Mandala is hung on the west wall symbolizing the final realization of [[Vairocana|Mahāvairocana]] Buddha.<ref>{{cite book | last = Hakeda | first = Yoshito S. | title = Kūkai and His Major Works | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1972 | isbn = 0-231-05933-7 | pages=87}}</ref> In this setting, the Womb Realm Mandala is hung on the east wall, symbolizing the young stage of Mahāvairocana Buddha.

In [[Chinese Buddhism]], the Diamond Realm Mandala is also associated with the [[Yogacara Flaming Mouth ceremony|Yogacara Flaming Mouth Ritual]] ([[:zh:施孤|瑜伽焰口法會]]), which is often conducted during the [[Ghost Festival|Chinese Ghost Festival]] in order to feed [[Preta|pretas]] and reduce their suffering. Part of the ritual involves the performing ritual master wearing a Vairocana crown which is adorned with images of the [[Five Tathāgatas]]. The textual tradition for this part of the ritual asserts that the thirty-seven deities which make up the Diamond Realm Mandala are installed in the crown and that these deities confer their blessings and powers on the ritual master during the performance of the ritual.<ref>{{Cite thesis|title=Feeding Ghosts: A Study of the Yuqie Yankou Rite|url=https://doi.org/10.18130/V3S82Z|publisher=University of Virginia|doi=10.18130/v3s82z|first=Hun Yeow|last=Lye|date=2003 }}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Skandha#Eighteen Dhātus and Four Paramatthas|Dhatu]]
*[[Dhatu]] - [[Vajradhatu]] - [[Garbhadhatu]] - [[Dharmadhatu]]
*[[Vajradhatu]]
*[[Womb Realm]]
*[[Dharmadhatu]]


== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
<references/>

== Further reading ==
* Grotenhuis, Elizabeth Ten (1999). Japanese mandalas: representations of sacred geography, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, pp. 33-57


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.thangka.de/Gallery-3/Cosmos/9-6/garbhadatu-0.htm The Diamond and Womb World Mandalas] Dharmapala Thangka Centre
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110728104619/http://www.thangka.de/Gallery-3/Cosmos/9-6/garbhadatu-0.htm The Diamond and Womb World Mandalas] Dharmapala Thangka Centre
*[http://www.thangka.de/Gallery-3/Cosmos/9-6/antique.htm Mandala of the Womb World - Dharmapala Thangka Centre]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110728104631/http://www.thangka.de/Gallery-3/Cosmos/9-6/antique.htm Mandala of the Womb World - Dharmapala Thangka Centre]


{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{buddhism2}}


[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]

[[fr:Kongōkai]]
[[hu:Gyémántbirodalom]]
[[zh:金刚界]]

Latest revision as of 21:36, 25 November 2023

Diamond Realm Mandala in Tangmi and Shingon
Tibetan painting of Vajradhatu

In Vajrayana Buddhism, the Diamond Realm (Skt. वज्रधातु vajradhātu, Traditional Chinese: 金剛界; Pinyin: Jīngāngjiè; Romaji: Kongōkai) is a metaphysical space inhabited by the Five Tathagatas. The Diamond Realm Mandala is based on an esoteric Buddhist sutra called the Vajrasekhara Sutra.

The Diamond Realm is a very popular subject for mandalas, and along with the Womb Realm (garbhakoṣadhātu) Mandala forms the Mandala of the Two Realms. This mandala, along with the Womb Realm, form the core of Chinese Tangmi and Japanese Shingon rituals, including the initiation or abhiṣeka ritual. In this ritual, new initiates are blindfolded, and are asked to toss a flower upon a mandala. Where the flower lands helps decide which Buddhist figure the student should devote themselves to.[1]

In traditional Tangmi and Shingon halls, the Diamond Realm Mandala is hung on the west wall symbolizing the final realization of Mahāvairocana Buddha.[2] In this setting, the Womb Realm Mandala is hung on the east wall, symbolizing the young stage of Mahāvairocana Buddha.

In Chinese Buddhism, the Diamond Realm Mandala is also associated with the Yogacara Flaming Mouth Ritual (瑜伽焰口法會), which is often conducted during the Chinese Ghost Festival in order to feed pretas and reduce their suffering. Part of the ritual involves the performing ritual master wearing a Vairocana crown which is adorned with images of the Five Tathāgatas. The textual tradition for this part of the ritual asserts that the thirty-seven deities which make up the Diamond Realm Mandala are installed in the crown and that these deities confer their blessings and powers on the ritual master during the performance of the ritual.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hakeda, Yoshito S. (1972). Kūkai and His Major Works. Columbia University Press. p. 44. ISBN 0-231-05933-7.
  2. ^ Hakeda, Yoshito S. (1972). Kūkai and His Major Works. Columbia University Press. p. 87. ISBN 0-231-05933-7.
  3. ^ Lye, Hun Yeow (2003). Feeding Ghosts: A Study of the Yuqie Yankou Rite (Thesis). University of Virginia. doi:10.18130/v3s82z.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Grotenhuis, Elizabeth Ten (1999). Japanese mandalas: representations of sacred geography, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, pp. 33-57
[edit]
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