Mandala of the Two Realms

The Mandala of the Two Realms (Traditional Chinese: 両界曼荼羅; Pinyin: Liǎngjiè màntúluó; Rōmaji: Ryōkai mandara), also known as the Mandala of the Two Divisions (Traditional Chinese: 両部曼荼羅; Pinyin: Liǎngbù màntúluó; Rōmaji: Ryōbu mandara), is a set of two mandalas in East Asian Esoteric Buddhism, particularly prominent within Chinese Esoteric Buddhism as well as the Shingon and Tendai traditions of Japanese Buddhism. The Dual Mandala comprises two complementary mandalas: the Womb Realm Mandala (Sanskrit: garbhakoṣadhātu, Traditional Chinese: 胎蔵界曼荼羅; Pinyin: Tāizāngjiè màntúluó; Rōmaji: Taizōkai mandara) associated with compassion and the Diamond Realm Mandala (Sanskrit: vajradhātu, Traditional Chinese: 金剛界曼荼羅; pinyin: Jīngāngjiè màntúluó; rōmaji: Kongōkai mandara) associated with wisdom. The Dual Mandalas represent distinct yet non-dual dimensions of the enlightened cosmos centered on the universal Buddha Mahāvairocana (Chinese: 大日如來; pinyin: Dàrì Rúlái; rōmaji: Dainichi Nyorai).

The Mandala of the Two Worlds encapsulates the cosmology, metaphysics, and soteriology of East Asian Esoteric Buddhism. It provides both a visual and ritual method for realizing the practitioner's inherent identity with the Buddha, through the integration of compassion and wisdom. It is thus a symbolic teaching device, a meditative tool, and a ritual instrument. The Dual Mandalas portray two complementary dimensions of Buddhahood. The Womb Realm represents the great compassion (maha karuṇā) of the original Buddha Mahāvairocana who is always nurturing all beings toward enlightenment. The Vajra Realm signifies the indestructible omniscient wisdom (sārvajñana) of Mahāvairocana Buddha which pervades all phenomena. Thus, the Two Worlds Mandala provides a complete map of the cosmos as a unified field of compassion and wisdom which is used by an esoteric practitioner, through ritual and meditative identification with the deities of the mandalas, to progressively actualizes their own original enlightenment.

Both mandalas present highly systematized arrays of buddhas, bodhisattvas, wisdom kings, and celestial beings. The number of deities arranged around the cores varies, but may range as high as 414. Each figure holds specific mudrās (hand gestures) and attributes, and is associated with specific seed syllables (bīja). Both mandalas are oriented according to the cardinal directions, with symbolic meaning attached to each direction. Specific colors are also employed symbolically, representing particular virtues, or elements.

Japanese Shingon and Tendai temples often prominently display the Mandalas of the Two Realms mounted at right angles to the image platform on the central altar. The two mandalas are believed to have evolved separately in India, and were joined for the first time in China, perhaps by Kūkai's teacher Huiguo (746–805).

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