Ten Great Disciples

The ten most important disciples of Shakyamuni. In the early days, there were no specific disciples, but the names of the ten great disciples were fixed in the Mahayana scriptures. Generally, the following ten people are referred to: (1) Shariputra (first in wisdom), (2) Maudgalyayana (first in supernatural powers), (3) Mahakasyapa (first in zuda - practicing poverty through asceticism), (4) Subhuti (first in emptiness - understanding that everything is empty), (5) Purna (first in preaching), (6) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (7) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (8) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (9) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (10) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (11) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (12) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (13) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (14) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (15) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (16) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (17) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (18) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (19 ...20) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (21) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (22) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (23) Kasyapa (first in sectarianism), (24) (1) Kasennen (Discussion No. 1), (2) Anavra (Heavenly Eye - Supernatural Vision - No. 1), (3) Ubari (Practicing the Precepts - No. 1), (4) Rahula (Secret Practice - Observing even the most minute precepts - No. 1), (5) Ananda (Tamon - Hearing and remembering the teachings of Shakyamuni as much as possible - No. 1). The specific belief in the Ten Great Disciples seems to have originated in China, and the sculptures at Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara are particularly famous.

[Yoshiaki Ishigami]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

釈迦(しゃか)の弟子のなかで代表とされる10人のこと。最初期には特定の弟子はいなかったが、大乗経典では十大弟子の呼称が固定した。一般的には次の10人をいう。(1)舎利弗(しゃりほつ)（智慧(ちえ)第一）、(2)目犍連(もくけんれん)（神通力(じんずうりき)第一）、(3)摩訶迦葉(まかかしょう)（頭陀(ずだ)―苦行による清貧の実践―第一）、(4)須菩提(しゅぼだい)（解空(げくう)―すべて空であると理解する―第一）、(5)富楼那(ふるな)（説法第一）、(6)迦旃延(かせんねん)（論議第一）、(7)阿那律(あなりつ)（天眼(てんげん)―超自然的眼力―第一）、(8)優婆（波）離(うばり)（持律(じりつ)―戒律の実践―第一）、(9)羅睺羅(らごら)（密行―戒の微細なものまで守ること―第一）、(10)阿難(あなん)（多聞(たもん)―釈迦の教えをもっとも多く聞き記憶すること―第一）。具体的な十大弟子信仰は中国に始まったようで奈良興福寺の彫刻はとくに有名。

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