In
Vajrayana Buddhism, the
Five Dhyani Buddhas , also known as the
Five Wisdom Tathagatas , the
Five Great Buddhas and the
Five Jinas (
Sanskrit for "conqueror" or "victor"), are representations of the five qualities of the
Buddha. The term "dhyani-buddha" is first recorded in English by the British Resident in Nepal,
Brian Hodgson, in the early 19th century, and is unattested in any surviving traditional primary sources. These five Buddhas are a common subject of Vajrayana
mandalas. These five Buddhas are the primary object of realization and meditation in
Shingon Buddhism, a school of Vajarayana Buddhism founded in Japan by
Kukai.