Amoghavajra

Portrait of Amoghavajra. Japan, Kamakura Period (14th century) The Vajradhātu maṇḍala used in Amoghavajra's teachings from the .

Amoghavajra ( ; , 705–774) was a prolific translator who became one of the most politically powerful Buddhist monks in Chinese history and is acknowledged as one of the Patriarchs of Zhenyan Buddhism and Shingon Buddhism.

Life There are differing views as to where Amoghavajra's origins were from. Zhao Qian states that Amoghavajra was born in Samarkand

In 765, Amoghavajra used his new rendition of the Humane King Sutra in an elaborate ritual to counter the advance of a 200,000-strong army of Tibetan and Uyghurs which was poised to invade Chang'an. Its leader, Pugu Huai'en, dropped dead in camp and his forces dispersed.

The opulent Jinge Temple on Mount Wutai was completed in 767, a pet project of Amoghavajra, one of his many efforts to promote the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī as the protector of China. Amoghavajra continued to perform rites to avert disaster at the request of Emperor Daizong of Tang.

On his death in 774, three days of mourning were officially declared, and he posthumously received various exalted titles. The Chinese monks Huilang, Huiguo and Huilin