The "Dharma of the Weapons”: origin and meanings of Buddhist martial iconography

Abstract

Although little noticed in Western societies accustomed with figures such as the “Laughing Buddha” or the “Meditating Buddha”, armed and fierce deities are common in Buddhist iconography in India, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan. This article investigates the origin of these deities – especially in Mahayanist context – and analyses the symbolic meaning of the weapons they carry. The goal is to realize the value assigned to the iconographic violence in the context of Buddhism. The article also formulates hypotheses about the distance of Western societies in relation to non-Buddhist “armed Buddhas” and its acceptance in respect of figures such as the “Laughing Buddha” and “Meditating Buddha”.