Disciple or founding teacher
Chudahantaka Sonja
注荼半託迦尊者
A venerable listed as one of the Sixteen Rakan. The Sixteen Rakan are revered as disciples who carry the role of handing down Shakyamuni's teachings 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 Chudahantaka Sonja
A venerable listed as one of the Sixteen Rakan. He is described as having lived in the mountains of 持軸山.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
The role of the Sixteen Rakan — people who carry on the teachings
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 outstanding disciples of Shakyamuni and carry the role of handing the teachings down to later generations. Unlike the gods who appear in myths, they are revered through the figure of practitioners walking the Buddhist path.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Faith in rakan who stay close to people
The Kyoto National Museum explains that in China, 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. Their figures practicing among rocky mountains and by the water, and their individual expressions, give visual form to that faith.
Source: 京都国立博物館
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：注荼半託迦尊者」（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）
- 鹿鳴文庫「仏像図彙：十六羅漢（2/2）」（2026-10-16 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）