Bodhisattva
Deities菩薩 ・ Reading: bosatsu
Definition
The compassionate helpers
A bodhisattva (bosatsu) has reached the threshold of buddhahood but vows to remain in the world until every being is saved. That vow of active compassion made bodhisattvas the most approachable figures in Japanese Buddhism: Kannon hears the cries of the suffering, Jizō watches over travelers, children, and the dead, Monju embodies wisdom, and Miroku waits as the buddha of the far future. Whole pilgrimage circuits, like the thirty-three temple Kannon routes, are devoted to a single bodhisattva.
How to recognize one
In temple statuary, bodhisattvas are usually shown as graceful princely figures with crowns, jewelry, and flowing scarves, reflecting the historical Buddha's youth as a prince. A buddha (nyorai), by contrast, wears a plain monastic robe and no ornament. Look also for identifying attributes: Kannon often carries a lotus or vase and may have eleven heads or a thousand arms, while Jizō appears as a shaven-headed monk with a staff, the one bodhisattva who dresses like a renunciant.
Common questions
- What is the difference between a buddha and a bodhisattva?
A buddha (nyorai) has completed enlightenment and is shown in a plain monastic robe; a bodhisattva remains in the world to save others and is usually depicted as an adorned princely figure.
- Which bodhisattvas will I meet most often?
Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, and Jizō, guardian of travelers and children, appear at temples everywhere. Monju (wisdom) and Miroku (the future buddha) are also common.
- Why does Jizō look like a monk?
Jizō is traditionally shown as a shaven-headed monk with a staff and jewel, emphasizing his vow to walk all realms rescuing beings, unlike the princely dress of other bodhisattvas.
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