What is this? › Buddhas, kami & lucky gods

不動明王Fudō Myōō

Fudō Myōō
Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acala or Achala (Sanskrit: अचल, "The Immovable", IPA:), also known as Acalanātha (अचलनाथ, "Immovable Lord") or Āryācalanātha (आर्याचलनाथ, "Noble Immovable Lord"), is a wrathful deity and dharmapala (protector of the Dharma) prominent in Vajrayana Buddhism and East Asian Buddhism.

Originally a minor deity described as a messenger or acolyte of the buddha Vairocana, Acala later rose to prominence as an object of veneration in his own right as a remover of obstacles and destroyer of evil, eventually becoming seen as the wrathful manifestation of either Vairocana, the Buddha Akṣobhya, or the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī. In later texts, he is also called Caṇḍaroṣaṇa (चण्डरोषण, "Violent Wrathful One", IPA:) or Caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa (चण्डमहारोषण, "Violent One of Great Wrath", IPA:), the names by which he is more commonly known in countries like Nepal and Tibet.

In East Asian esoteric Buddhism, Acala is classed among the Wisdom Kings (Vidyārāja) and is preeminent among the five Wisdom Kings of the Womb Realm. Accordingly, he occupies an important hierarchical position in the Mandala of the Two Realms. In China, he is known as Bùdòng Míngwáng (不動明王, "Immovable Wisdom King", the Chinese translation of Sanskrit Acala(nātha) Vidyārāja), while in Japan, he is called Fudō Myōō, the on'yomi reading of his Chinese name.

Text from Wikipedia: Acala — CC BY-SA 4.0. Read more on Wikipedia →

見Where to see it

Japan Tourism Agency explanations

旅Try it yourself: Fudō Myōō

Live prices and reviews from GetYourGuide. Many tours can be cancelled for free — check each listing.

Ad: we may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.

券
Japan Rail Pass & regional passes

Compare whether a rail pass saves money on your route before you buy tickets.

Check prices →

Japan eSIM / mobile data

Ad: we may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.

問Questions visitors ask

What is Fudō Myōō?

Acala or Achala (Sanskrit: अचल, "The Immovable", IPA: [ˈɐt͜ɕɐlɐ]), also known as Acalanātha (अचलनाथ, "Immovable Lord") or Āryācalanātha (आर्याचलनाथ, "Noble Immovable Lord"), is a wrathful deity and dharmapala (protector of the Dharma) prominent in Vajrayana Buddhism and East Asian Buddhism.

Where can I see Fudō Myōō?

Places on Torii Guide where it is mentioned include: Naritasan Shinshō-ji.

仏Buddhas, kami & lucky gods

撮Standing in front of one?
Open the scanner and compare →