Disciple or founding teacher
Furuna
富楼那
One of the Ten Great Disciples of the Buddha, he is called Furuna, foremost in preaching. The Ten Great Disciples are those among Shakyamuni's disciples regarded as excelling in fields such as wisdom, preaching and the precepts.
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 Furuna
One of the Ten Great Disciples of the Buddha, he is called Furuna, foremost in preaching.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Tracing its form and traditions
He is said to have preached eloquently and in a way that was easy to understand, and to have been versed in 60 languages. It is recorded that his full name is Furuna Mitaranishi, that he was also called Mangan-shi and Manji-shi, and that there was also a different person of the same name.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
People who learned the teachings and passed them on
The Ten Great Disciples are those among Shakyamuni's disciples regarded as excelling in fields such as wisdom, preaching and the precepts. The practice or work at which each excelled is expressed in the title "foremost."
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
Until the sutras were handed down
After Shakyamuni's passing, his disciples are said to have held a council to gather and confirm the teachings. A Sōtō school explanation describes Makakashō as leading the assembly, Anan as reciting the teachings, Upari as reciting the precepts, and the other disciples as checking them.
Source: 曹洞宗
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：富楼那」（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：十大弟子」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 曹洞宗「経典」（2026-10-15 確認）