Diamond World from Mandala of the Two Worlds (Kongōkai Taizōkai mandara)

Hanging scroll painting of the Diamond World from the ‘Mandala of the Two Worlds’ (Kongōkai Taizōkai mandara), painted in colours on silk in Japan during the 15th century. In Japanese Esoteric Buddhism, paintings of the Diamond World and Womb World are paired as the ‘Mandala of the Two Worlds’. While the Diamond World mandala is known as the mandala of wisdom, the Womb World mandala is known as the mandala of principle. Often hung on facing walls in the temple hall, together they offer the means to reveal ultimate truth.