Kurita's meticulously crafted Buddhist statues: Five-pronged vajra (9cm), metal, brass, Buddhist implement, Esoteric Buddhist ritual implement, m2001

Five-pronged Vajra

The five-pronged vajra is said to have been introduced to Japan by seven of the eight Buddhist monks who traveled to Tang China, excluding Huiyun.

Originally a type of weapon (vajra) in India, in Esoteric Buddhism it represents the samaya form of various deities.

While there are various designs for the five-pronged vajra, it is said to represent the Bodhisattva mind, the Five Buddhas and Five Wisdoms, and the Ten Paramitas, and to break the ten kinds of defilements and attain the ten stages of enlightenment.

Size: Length 9cm, Maximum width 2.8cm Weight: Approx. 70g Material: Brass (yellow-zinc alloy) Country of origin: China The vajra is a ritual implement that likens the way in which the Buddha's teachings extinguish defilements and express the Bodhisattva mind (the mind seeking enlightenment) to a weapon from Indian mythology. It is used in Esoteric Buddhist rituals in Shingon and Tendai sects, and in Segaki ceremonies in Shingon, Tendai, and Zen sects. The basic form is rod-shaped with a handle (oni-me section) in the center. The oni-me is conjured up as Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana Buddha), and practitioners grasp this bulge as a ritual to become one with Dainichi Nyorai. Spear-like blades are attached to the top and bottom. There are several variations depending on the number and shape of the blades, each with its own name. The five-pronged vajra is said to have been introduced to Japan by seven of the eight esoteric Buddhist practitioners who went to Tang China, excluding Huiyun. Originally, in India it was a type of weapon (vajra), but in esoteric Buddhism it is a samaya form of various deities. There are various types of banners on the five-pronged vajra, but they represent the meaning of the Bodhisattva mind, the five Buddhas and five wisdoms, and the ten paramitas, and are said to break the ten kinds of defilements and attain the ten stages.