<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mR68J.jpg" alt="13 Buddhas"></p>

<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/200832464606459705/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Brian Gentz</a> </p>

<p>The list of 13 Buddhas used in <a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/jusanbutsu.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Shingon funeral rites</a> is based on the chief Buddhist deities found on two important mandalas used by Shingon practitioners in ritual practices: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Womb_Realm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Taizokai (Womb World) mandala</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Realm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">KongoKai (Diamond World) mandala.</a>  It is understood the deities assist the living and the deceased by guiding them into the realm of enlightenment.  Depending on the anniversary date of the deceased, a memorial service associated with the deity is held for the deceased.</p>

<p>Each deity on the list plays an important part at different levels of the two mandalas in assisting the initiate reach enlightenment.   These mandalas are aggregates of additional mandalas from the early Vajrayana tradition.  The mandala principals for the illustrations and placement of the deities roles are found in early Vajrayana texts: the Womb World Mandala is found in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavairocana_Sutra" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mahavairocana Tantra</a>, and the Diamond World Mandala is found in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrasekhara_Sutra" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vajrasekhara Tantra</a>.</p>

<p>List of 13 Buddhas and the dates for the corresponding memorial services:</p>

<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/fudo.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Fudo (Acala) - The Immovable Radiant King, 7th day</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/shaka.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Shaka (Sakyamuni) - Sage of the Shakya Tribe, 14th day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/monju.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Monju (Manjushri) - Bodhisattva of Beautiful Splendor, 21st day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/fugen.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Fugen (Samantabhadra) - Bodhisattva of Universal Beauty, 28th day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/jizo.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Jizo (Ksitigarbha), - Bodhisattva Storehouse of the Earth 35th day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/miroku.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Miroku (Maitreya), - The Benevolent Bodhisattva 42nd day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/yakushi.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru), - Buddha of the Master of Medicine 49th day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/kannon.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kannon (Avalokitesvara), - Bodhisattva of Compassion 100th day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/seishi.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta), - Bodhisattva Who Proceeds With Vigor 1st anniversary</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/amida.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Amida (Amitabha), - Buddha of Infinite Life and Life 2nd anniversary</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/ashuku.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ashuku (Akshobhya), - The Immovable Buddha 6th anniversary</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/dainichi.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dainichi (Vairocana), - The Great Buddha of Universal Illumination 12th anniversary</a></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/kokuzo.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kokuzo (Akasagarbha), The Storehouse of Space Bodhisattva 32nd anniversary</a></p>

<p>Garbhadhatu Mandala (Womb World Mandala)</p></li>
</ol>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/cdbBd.jpg" alt="Garbhadhatu Mandala"></p>

<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Womb_Realm#mediaviewer/File:Taizokai.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Peehyoro Acala</a></p>

<p>Vajradhātu Mandala (Diamond World Mandala)</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/WmzCu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>Courtesy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Realm#mediaviewer/File:Kongokai.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Peehyoro Acala</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-13T18:04:25.440Z
2014-07-13T18:04:25.440Z
DharmaEater
<p>The list of 13 Buddhas (which is actually Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Wisdom Kings) plays a role in Shingon gongyo and funerary rites.  What accounts for why these particular 13 are set aside for special attention?</p>

<ul>
<li>Fudo (Acala)</li>
<li>Shaka (Sakyamuni)</li>
<li>Monju (Manjushri)</li>
<li>Fugen (Samantabhadra)</li>
<li>Jizo (Ksitigarbha)</li>
<li>Miroku (Maitreya)</li>
<li>Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru)</li>
<li>Kannon (Avalokitesvara)</li>
<li>Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta)</li>
<li>Amida (Amitabha)</li>
<li>Ashuku (Akshobhya)</li>
<li>Dainichi (Vairocana)</li>
<li>Kokuzo (Akasagarbha)</li>
</ul>

<p>Minor update: I did some googling on this, it appears that lists of Buddhas, sometimes very <a href="http://jadeturtlerecords.blogspot.com/2011/12/infinite-buddhas.html" rel="nofollow">long lists of Buddhas, occur throughout the Mahayana cannon</a>.</p>

<mahayana><bodhisattva><shingon>
What explains the membership of Shingon's 13 Buddhas list?
# What explains the membership of Shingon's 13 Buddhas list?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-06)

The list of 13 Buddhas (which is actually Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Wisdom Kings) plays a role in Shingon gongyo and funerary rites. What accounts for why these particular 13 are set aside for special attention?

* Fudo (Acala)
* Shaka (Sakyamuni)
* Monju (Manjushri)
* Fugen (Samantabhadra)
* Jizo (Ksitigarbha)
* Miroku (Maitreya)
* Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru)
* Kannon (Avalokitesvara)
* Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta)
* Amida (Amitabha)
* Ashuku (Akshobhya)
* Dainichi (Vairocana)
* Kokuzo (Akasagarbha)

Minor update: I did some googling on this, it appears that lists of Buddhas, sometimes very [long lists of Buddhas, occur throughout the Mahayana cannon](http://jadeturtlerecords.blogspot.com/2011/12/infinite-buddhas.html).

**Tags:** mahayana, bodhisattva, shingon


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-13. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

![13 Buddhas](https://i.sstatic.net/mR68J.jpg)

Courtesy of [Brian Gentz](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/200832464606459705/)

The list of 13 Buddhas used in [Shingon funeral rites](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/jusanbutsu.html) is based on the chief Buddhist deities found on two important mandalas used by Shingon practitioners in ritual practices: the [Taizokai (Womb World) mandala](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Womb_Realm) and the [KongoKai (Diamond World) mandala.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Realm) It is understood the deities assist the living and the deceased by guiding them into the realm of enlightenment. Depending on the anniversary date of the deceased, a memorial service associated with the deity is held for the deceased.

Each deity on the list plays an important part at different levels of the two mandalas in assisting the initiate reach enlightenment. These mandalas are aggregates of additional mandalas from the early Vajrayana tradition. The mandala principals for the illustrations and placement of the deities roles are found in early Vajrayana texts: the Womb World Mandala is found in the [Mahavairocana Tantra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavairocana_Sutra), and the Diamond World Mandala is found in the [Vajrasekhara Tantra](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajrasekhara_Sutra).

List of 13 Buddhas and the dates for the corresponding memorial services:

1. [Fudo (Acala) - The Immovable Radiant King, 7th day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/fudo.html)
2. [Shaka (Sakyamuni) - Sage of the Shakya Tribe, 14th day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/shaka.html)
3. [Monju (Manjushri) - Bodhisattva of Beautiful Splendor, 21st day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/monju.html)
4. [Fugen (Samantabhadra) - Bodhisattva of Universal Beauty, 28th day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/fugen.html)
5. [Jizo (Ksitigarbha), - Bodhisattva Storehouse of the Earth 35th day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/jizo.html)
6. [Miroku (Maitreya), - The Benevolent Bodhisattva 42nd day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/miroku.html)
7. [Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru), - Buddha of the Master of Medicine 49th day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/yakushi.html)
8. [Kannon (Avalokitesvara), - Bodhisattva of Compassion 100th day](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/kannon.html)
9. [Seishi (Mahasthamaprapta), - Bodhisattva Who Proceeds With Vigor 1st anniversary](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/seishi.html)
10. [Amida (Amitabha), - Buddha of Infinite Life and Life 2nd anniversary](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/amida.html)
11. [Ashuku (Akshobhya), - The Immovable Buddha 6th anniversary](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/ashuku.html)
12. [Dainichi (Vairocana), - The Great Buddha of Universal Illumination 12th anniversary](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/dainichi.html)
13. [Kokuzo (Akasagarbha), The Storehouse of Space Bodhisattva 32nd anniversary](http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/kokuzo.html)

    Garbhadhatu Mandala (Womb World Mandala)

![Garbhadhatu Mandala](https://i.sstatic.net/cdbBd.jpg)

Courtesy of [Peehyoro Acala](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Womb_Realm#mediaviewer/File:Taizokai.jpg)

Vajradhātu Mandala (Diamond World Mandala)

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/WmzCu.jpg)

Courtesy of [Peehyoro Acala](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Realm#mediaviewer/File:Kongokai.jpg)


---

