Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Buddha (nyorai)

Tōmyō Butsu

燈明仏とうみょうぶつ

An illustration of Tōmyō Butsu created for this site
An original illustration made for this site.

Tōmyō Butsu is the buddha name assigned to the 2nd day among the Thirty-Day Hidden Buddhas, through which people form a bond with a buddha on each day of the month. Shōhōin gives the alternative name Unjizai Tōō and also introduces a tradition that identifies it with Nichigatsu Tōmyō Butsu.

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

Tōmyō Butsu, assigned to the 2nd day of the Thirty-Day Hidden Buddhas

Tōmyō Butsu is the buddha name assigned to the 2nd day among the Thirty-Day Hidden Buddhas, through which people form a bond with a buddha on each day of the month. Shōhōin gives the alternative name Unjizai Tōō and also introduces a tradition that identifies it with Nichigatsu Tōmyō Butsu.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・四国霊場 平等寺

Faith that assigns a buddha name to each day

Byōdō-ji explains that the Thirty-Day Hidden Buddhas were handed down by expanding faith in the ten days of abstinence (jissainichi) and combining names of buddhas transmitted in various sutras. It is one of the customs of keeping a buddha in mind on each day and building up prayer in daily life.

Source: 四国霊場 平等寺

Related kami and buddhas

Sources (in Japanese)