Disciple or founding teacher
Ashita Sonja
阿氏多尊者
A venerable one listed as one of the Sixteen Rakan. The Sixteen Rakan are revered as disciples who carry the role of passing the Buddha Shaka's teaching on to later generations. "Rakan" means a person who has attained enlightenment through practice.
This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
The name and role of Ashita Sonja
A venerable one listed as one of the Sixteen Rakan.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
The role of the Sixteen Rakan — those who carry on the teaching
Rakan is short for "arakan" and refers to a person worthy of respect who has attained enlightenment through practice. The Sixteen Rakan are revered as a group of the Buddha Shaka's outstanding disciples, and they carry the role of passing the teaching on to later generations. Unlike the gods who appear in myths, they are honored through the figure of practitioners who walk the Buddhist path.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Faith in the rakan who stay close to people
The Kyoto National Museum explains that in China the rakan were deeply revered as beings who, while having attained enlightenment, stay close to people in this world and bring them happiness. Rakan paintings brought from China also became models for Japanese painting. Figures practicing among rocky mountains or by the water, and their individual facial expressions, give visual form to that faith.
Source: 京都国立博物館
The tradition that he lived on 鷲峯山
Shōhōin states that Ashita Sonja lived in the mountains of 鷲峯山. This is a tradition of an individual dwelling place, handed down for one of the Sixteen Rakan.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：阿氏多尊者」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：十六羅漢」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 京都国立博物館「中国の羅漢図」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 龍雲山 太興院「太興院の仏さま：十六羅漢・観音（接賓）」（2026-10-16 確認）