Daiitoku Myōō

Daiitoku Myōō (大威徳明王), the King of Great Majesty, is the wisdom king of the west among the Godai Myōō. As Yamāntaka, the conqueror of Yama, lord of death, he overcomes death itself. He is the wrathful emanation of Amida, and was invoked in rites for victory over enemies.

Japanese 大威徳明王, Daiitoku Myōō
Sanskrit Yamāntaka
Rank Wisdom king
Recognise by Six faces, six arms and six legs; seated astride a water buffalo
Direction West, emanation of Amida

Identifying Daiitoku

No other wisdom king has six legs or rides a water buffalo, so Daiitoku is the easiest of the five to recognise. The six faces look in every direction, and the six legs are said to stand for the six perfections. The principal hands are joined in a mudrā at the chest, and the others hold a sword, a halberd, a wheel, a staff and a rope. The buffalo, the mount of Yama himself, kneels beneath him.

Meaning

By riding the beast of the lord of death, Daiitoku shows that death has been mastered. His six legs walk through the six realms to rescue beings wherever they are reborn. In medieval Japan, warriors and the court called on him in rites of subjugation.

In Japanese art

The Daiitoku of the Tōji lecture hall, astride a powerful buffalo, is one of the finest of the ninth-century kings. The motif of a many-legged rider was also a favourite of esoteric painters, and Daiitoku appears in the Womb Realm mandala.

Collecting notes

  • The buffalo and rider were usually carved separately. A figure that has kept its original mount is far more desirable.
  • Small esoteric figures of Daiitoku, in wood or bronze, appear more often than the other kings of the four directions.

In the collection

Browse wisdom kings. Our collector concierge can search Japan for a Daiitoku image.

See also

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