mikkyō hōgu 密教法具

Utensils used during ritual incantation and prayer in Esoteric Buddhism mikkyō 密教. Introduced to Japan in the early Heian period by eight Buddhist monks known as the Nittō Hakke 入唐八家, who went to Tang China to study mikkyō. The forms of the utensils are derived from ancient Indian weapons and items used in daily life. Important items include the *kongōsho 金剛杵, *kogōrei 金剛鈴, *kongōban 金剛盤, rinpō 輪宝, *katsuma 羯磨, *shiketsu 四けつ and *kebyō 花瓶. A famous collection of mikkyō hōgu, said to have been brought back from China by *Kūkai 空海, can be seen in Kyōōgokokuji 教王護国寺 (Tōji 東寺), Kyoto.