The Esoteric Buddhism of Japan Oracle Playing cards is so stunning, so awe-inspiring that I deal with it as I’d a sutra — all of the Buddhist etiquette utilized to sacred texts I apply to how I deal with this deck.
Acharya Yuzui Kotaki is a Shingon Buddhist instructor and a vice-chief priest of the Maginosan Ren-join Temple in Kanagawa, Japan. Miki Okuda is a painter, each in conventional and digital media who focuses on Buddhist non secular artwork. The deck was first launched in 2021, and I don’t know the way it flew so below the radar within the tarot neighborhood.
The deck consists of 44 manifestations of the Buddhas, and within the guidebook you’ll discover the mantra recitation for every Buddha. There are 4 courses of Buddhas, that are all featured on this 44-card deck:
- Buddhas (Nyorai), those that have attained enlightenment;
- Bodhisattvas (Bosatsu), those that are in religious coaching to realize enlightenment, who’ve taken vows;
- Knowledge Kings (Myo-o), wrathful deities who information us to stick to the teachings of the Buddha; and
- Heavenly Deities (Ten-bu), historic Indian gods who had been syncretized into the Buddhist Path and are protector gods.
Nyorai are the Buddhas. Of the 5 Compassionate Buddhas, Dainichi Nyorai guidelines the middle; Ashuku Nyorai guidelines the east; Hosho Nyorai guidelines the south; Amida Nyorai guidelines the west; and Fukujoju Nyorai guidelines the north. The deck features a sixth, Yakushi Nyorai, higher referred to as the Drugs Buddha.
The Myo-o are the Knowledge Kings, usually showing as wrathful deities. There are seven Knowledge Kings featured on this deck.
Aizen Myo-o, as an example, classically depicted with purple pores and skin, is the Knowledge King of affection. For those who’re utilizing the deck for divination, when Aizen Myo-o seems, the message pertains to love and relationships, and the way you may higher specific your emotions.
Kujaku Myo-o is the Knowledge King who helps us to eradicate poison. If you invoke him by means of his mantra, Om mayura-krante svaha, you possibly can manifest miracles by means of his energy and safety.
Then there are people deities, resembling Sanpo Kojin, the fury of nature personified as a god, or the 4 Heavenly Kings.
Let’s highlight a random collection of playing cards from the deck simply to take a better look–
Komokuten, as an example, is the heavenly king of the West. His messenger spirit is the dragon. He together with Tamonten, Zochoten, and Jikokuten guard the 4 instructions for the 5 Compassionate Buddhas.
Benzaiten is the synchronization of the Hindu goddess Saraswati. Benzaiten is the Japanese goddess of water and music, who blesses you with musical expertise, recognition, and fame.
Dakiniten is the mistress of the kitsune fox spirit and granter of needs. She’s additionally a messenger for the Lord of the Underworld and Daikokuten (pictured on Card 39).
The accompanying guidebook is a fast and simple learn, whereas additionally serving as a implausible introduction to Shingon Buddhism (Japanese esoteric Buddhism). It covers the group of Buddhas, the six realms, and find out how to work with the 2 types of mandalas — the Diamond Realm Mandala and the Womb Realm Mandala. There’s additionally data on the guardian Buddhas of every zodiac signal.
Personally, I don’t use this deck for divinatory readings. I work with them as prayer playing cards that I place on my residence altar or as a focus throughout meditation. I’ll recite the mantra to invoke a selected Buddha whereas the illustrated prayer card is about out in entrance of me.
The playing cards themselves function Okuda’s illustration of the Buddhist divinity after which the identify given to that manifestation of the divinity. There are not any key phrases and the ascribed meanings aren’t printed on the playing cards.
The main focus is the non secular artwork, and so when you’re accustomed to every bodhisattva’s or knowledge king’s attributions, key symbols, and so on., then it’s all there within the illustration. In any other case you’d be beholden to the guidebook.
My critique isn’t of the playing cards themselves, however of maybe a disconnect between the market this deck has been focused at and the stylistic attributes of the playing cards. The depth that this deck goes to when it comes to delineating esoteric Buddhist ideas is spectacular, which suggests for the common non-Buddhist who’s intrigued by the artwork and thus picks this deck up, the operability may go over their heads. Whereas those that may admire its depth may not be all that into divination oracle playing cards. Therefore the conundrum.
I do assume having added key phrases for every Buddha’s blessings would have added to the deck’s marketability, possibly a brief phrase in small font slightly below the place you presently see the cardboard quantity and names.
The guidebook gives the kanji for every Buddhist divinity, the mantra for invoking the divinity, and the oracle card correspondences within the occasion you employ the deck for divination.
A bit on the Buddhism steerage and knowledge to be discovered from that exact divinity and a profile explaining the divinity is probably my favourite a part of the guidebook, which turns the deck set right into a implausible Buddhist examine device.
For the deck collector trying to tick the checkbox on a Buddhist themed deck in your oracle assortment, that is worlds past probably the greatest I’ve seen. The creators approached the endeavor with reverence.
The element work is at a microfine stage, the colours luminescent, and the matte cardstock the right canvas to light up the artwork. And the guidebook is a implausible primer on Buddhist cosmology.
If you’re Buddhist your self, I’m actually loving this deck as a meditation device set, or simply for basic veneration, or to work with as altar playing cards.
If you wish to study a bit bit extra about East Asian esoteric Buddhism, then this can be a implausible starter pack.
The paintings is out of this world. The extent of expertise here’s a phenomenon. And the matte cardstock is de facto luxe, actually prime quality.
FTC Disclosure: In accordance with Title 16 of the U.S. Code of Federal Rules Half 255, “Guides Regarding Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Promoting,” I obtained the deck from the writer for potential evaluate. All the pieces I’ve stated right here is honest and precisely displays my opinion of the deck.
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