The Five Abhisambodhi

Secret Buddha (Hibutsu) / Ink on Paper / Two Volumes

Esoteric Buddhist iconography drawn using black ink depicting deities of the Vajradhatu Mandala. The complete version features a postscript written by Enchin, which reveals that in 855, he was granted a treasured copy held by his master, the monk Faquan 法全 of Qinglong Temple in Chang'an, and brought it back to Japan. The Five Abhisambodhi illustrates the contemplation methods of the five parts of the various deities depicted in the six mandalas (Vajradhatu Mandala) mentioned in the Vajrasekhara Sutra, which explains the principles of attaining buddhahood during life. The paper is divided into three sections: top, middle, and bottom, with the top showing the images of the various deities, the middle noting their names and mantras in Sanskrit, and the bottom depicting their symbols, attributes, ritualistic weapons, and hand gestures. The complete version brought back by Enchin features refined and elegant lines portrays the figures in a full and sensual Indian-manner, making it an extremely valuable original of esoteric Buddhist figures from the golden age of the Tang Dynasty. The first volume, which is missing the beginning, was copied in the later Heian period (6th to 10th centuries) based on the complete version.

Category
National Treasure
Era
[Complete Version] Tang Dynasty (9th century), [Incomplete Version] Heian Period (11th century)
Measurements
[Complete Version] 29.9 × 1808.9 cm, [Incomplete Version] 29.6 × 1171.6 cm