mandala in Kanji

Mandala, which is said to have originated in ancient India, is said to have spread to Central Asia, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, and there are various types.
In Japan, it is often treated as a principal image in the form of a hanging scroll. There are many different ways of expression.
Mandala exists not only in esoteric Buddhism but also in Japanese Shintoism and Hinduism, and each mandala has its own content and expression method. It shows the world view, space view, enlightenment, etc.

The origin of the word mandala is “mandala”, which originally means “round thing” in Sanskrit language.
The origin of the mandala is said to be an illustration drawn on the earth called the earthen altar in ancient India. The final stage is the landmark and stage of the setsuwa (a gathering to spread the teachings of Buddhism). “Dan” has the meaning of a realm, and Buddha statues are enshrined and offerings are made. By the way, in Japan, many wooden altars have been made like funeral altars. It is said that the popular mandala painting, in which Buddhas gather in large numbers, was first drawn on cloth.
Esoteric Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the Nara period, and mandala in the Heian period. It is said that Kukai was the first to bring it in.