Bodhisattva (bosatsu)
Kekō Bosatsu
花光菩薩
Kekō Bosatsu appears in Shōhōin's materials on sacred images as a bodhisattva holding a lotus. The temple's explanation traces the name to a tradition that this bodhisattva attained awakening upon seeing flowers scatter like rain and shine.
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
A bodhisattva with a story of flowers and light
Kekō Bosatsu appears in Shōhōin's materials on sacred images as a bodhisattva holding a lotus. The temple's explanation traces the name to a tradition that this bodhisattva attained awakening upon seeing flowers scatter like rain and shine.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Handed down in a form holding a lotus
In this material, the lotus in the left hand is the clue to recognizing the form. The story of reaching awakening through flowers is introduced together with the image of the deity holding a flower.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：花光菩薩」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）