Easily confused Buddhist representations

Representations of the five Dhyani Buddhas, who are abstract aspects of Buddhahood rather than Buddhas or gods, have elaborate differences.[6] Each must face in a different direction (north, south, east, west, or center), and, when painted, each is a different color (blue, yellow, red, green, or white). Each has a different mudrā and symbol; embodies a different aspect, type of evil, and cosmic element; has a different consort and spiritual son, as well as different animal vehicles (elephant, lion, peacock, harpys or garuda, or dragon).[7]

Vairocana, the first Dhyani Buddha, embodying sovereignty and occupying the center,[7] is a special case (in any case, he is distinct from Gautama and not normally confused with him). He was one of the Buddhas of Bamiyan blown up by the Taliban which China mourned and tried to replace with the world's tallest statue, named Spring Temple Buddha.[8] Japanese Pure Land Buddhists think that Vairocana and the other Dhyani Buddhas are manifestations of Amitābha, but Japanese Shingon Buddhists think that Amitābha and the other Dhyani Buddhas are manifestations of Vairocana.[9]

Akshobhya, the second Dhyani Buddha who embodies steadfastness and faces east, and Gautama are indistinguishable. Both can be seated in the Vajraparyanka (also known as Bhūmisparśa) pose, with the right hand on the right knee, palm turned inwardly, and middle finger touching the ground.[7][10][11] Amitābha (Japanese: Amida) is the most ancient Dhyani Buddha, embodying light and facing west, and is the central figure in Pure Land Buddhism. A statue of Amitābha, when seated, has a samadhi mudrā with both palms face up, on top of each other, in his lap.[7][12][13]

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  Five Dhyani Buddhas, unknown provenance
• 
  Spring Temple Buddha picturing Vairocana, in Lushan County, Henan, China, is the world's second tallest statue.
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  Aksobhya, Tibet, 19th century, Honolulu Museum of Art
• 
  The Great Statue of Buddha Amitabha in Kamakura, Japan

Especially among Westerners, Budai (in Chinese, or Hotei in Japanese) is often confused with Gautama or is thought to have originated Buddhism.[14] He is an incarnation of the bodhisattva and future Buddha, Maitreya,[15] who will come to Earth 4,000 years after Gautama disappears.[16] His name means "Cloth Sack" for the bag of sweets he carries, eats and gives to children. Admired for his happiness and contentment,[15] he is known in Chinese as "The Laughing Buddha" and sometimes in English as "The Fat Buddha".

Images of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, might be mistaken for Gautama.[17] He is incarnated in the Dalai Lama, who is a tulku and the most revered Tibetan Buddhist monk.[18][19]

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  Maitreya incarnated as Budai, The Laughing Buddha, in the Feilai Feng Caves, China
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  Avalokiteśvara on an altar in North Gyeongsang Province, Korea
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  Avalokiteśvara, Nepal, 14th century

Gautama might have representations in a hundred different attitudes or positions, of which four follow.[20]

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  Gautama, with his hands in the dharmachakra or teaching mudrā. Sarnath Museum, India
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  Standing Buddha, 1st–2nd century CE, Tokyo National Museum
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  Sitting Buddha in the Vajraparyanka (Bhūmisparśa) position, unknown provenance
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  Buddha attaining Parinirvana. Statue excavated at the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

• Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand

• Hawkins, Bradley K. (1999). The Pocket Idiot's Guide: Buddhism. Laurence King (Penguin, Alpha). ISBN 0-02-864459-X.
• Sakya, Jnan Bahadur (compiler) (2002) [1995]. Short Description of Gods, Goddesses and Ritual Objects of Buddhism and Hinduism in Nepal (10th [reprint] ed.). Handicraft Association of Nepal. ISBN 99933-37-33-1.
• Sjoquist, Douglas P. (Winter 1999). "Identifying Buddhist Images in Japanese Painting and Sculpture" (PDF). Education About Asia. Association for Asian Studies. 4 (3).

Slides

• Huntington, John C. "Mudras in Pan-Asian Buddhism, Part 1: Primary Mudras of the Major Buddhas". SlideShare. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
• Coutu, Earnest. "Buddhist Mudras". SlideShare. Archived from the original on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2012-03-04.