Five-pronged Vajra
The five-pronged vajra is said to have been introduced to Japan by seven of the Eight Masters of the Tang Dynasty, excluding Huiyun.
Originally a type of weapon (vajra) in India, it is a symbol of the various deities in esoteric Buddhism.
While there are various types of five-pronged vajra flags, they represent the Bodhisattva Mind, the Five Buddhas and Five Wisdoms, and the Ten Paramitas, and are said to destroy the Ten Worldly Defilements and attain the Ten Stages.
Size: Length 9cm, Maximum Width 2.8cm
Weight: Approximately 70g
Material: Brass (Brass-Zinc Alloy)
Country of Origin: China
The vajra is a ritual implement, likened to a weapon from Indian mythology, representing the Buddha's teachings that eradicate worldly desires and express the bodhicitta (the desire for enlightenment). It is used in esoteric Buddhist rituals in Shingon and Tendai sects, as well as in segaki (segaki) ceremonies in Shingon, Tendai, and Zen sects. Its basic shape is rod-like, with a handle (the "onime" part) in the center. The onime is visualized as Mahavairocana Buddha, and practitioners grasp the bulge as a practice of becoming one with Mahavairocana Buddha. It has spear-like blades on 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 Masters who traveled to Tang China, excluding Huiyun. Originally, it was a type of weapon (vajra) in India, but in esoteric Buddhism it is the samadhi form of various deities. There are various types of flagpole for the five-pronged vajra, but it is said to represent the bodhisattva mind, the five Buddhas and five wisdoms, and the ten paramitas, and to destroy the ten types of earthly desires and attain the ten stages.