Originally, Shura (Ashura) was included in Tenbu (Deities who reside in a heavenly realm, one of six realms in which the souls of living beings transmigrate from one to another) but after Mahayana Buddhism was established, Shura derived from Tenbu and became Rokudo.

Therefore, these two notions are collectively called Five Realms Six Paths.

Although not originating from India or China, Roku Jizo (six Jizo Bodhisattva) which are allocated in each Rokudo, were enshrined throughout Japan in the 11th century and widely worshipped by ordinary people.

Nyoi is an abbreviation of Nyoi hoju, a wish-fulfilling jewel (Cintamani), and Rin is an abbreviation of Horin, Dharma-wheel (cakra) and its true wish is to preach at will, living in zanmai (samadhi) of Nyoi hoju, removing the troubles of living things in Rokudo (six posthumous worlds) and provides benefits to these worlds.

As one of the Roku Kannon, it is said to provide salvation for the dead in Gaki-do (the Realm of the Hungry Dead), which is one the Rokudo (the six realms of existence).

As it can be read as 'feeding hungry ghosts' in the kun-doku (the word-for-word translating method from Chinese to Japanese), it means the rites to feed living things who fell into Gaki-do (world of hungry ghosts) specially after their death among Bonpu (unenlightened persons) in the worlds of Rokudo rinne (Rebirth in the Six Worlds) and holding a mass for their spirits.

There exist many kinds of mandala works including those that depict various Buddha or rokudo-rinne (Rebirth in the Six Worlds) and Sand mandala which was produced with colored sand is also well known.

The Juo were regarded as an awesome existence because they decided whether the dead should be sent to Jigoku (Hell, one of the posthumous realms advocated by Buddhism) and presided over the Rokudo-rinne (transmigration in the six posthumous realms advocated by Buddhism) in light of the seriousness of the karma belonging to the dead person.

Even if seven judges could not find the instructions after seven trials, they instruct the dead person to go to one of the Rokudo (six posthumous realms) after those trials, therefore additional trials are effectively the relief measures.

The first chapter (onri-edo) describes the abhorrence of this impure world and preaches the Rokudo (six posthumous realms) of Hell, preta realm, animal realm, Asura realm, Human realm and blissful realm.

Its purpose is to clear the juni-innen (the 12 nidanas (continuum of twelve phases that lead to suffering)) of Shogyo Mujo (All things must pass) with the wisdom (prajna in Sanskrit) evoked by the enlightenment gained through the above process, to reach nirvana after diminishing the nidanas and being liberated from earthly desires and the woes of man, and to lead all living things finally.

Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple

Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple belonging to the Rinzai Sect Kenninji School located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City,

It is known for the Rokudo Mairi (Six Realms Pilgrimage) ritual held from August 7 to 10 and the well through which ONO no Takamura is said to have passed into Yomi (the underworld).

Legend has it that Rokudo-no Tsuji (the intersection of six paths to the six realms) lies in the vicinity of the temple.

Rokudo Mairi

Jizo Bosatsu is considered to relieve people of Rokudo (the six posthumous worlds of Jigoku-do (paths to hell), Gaki-do (path of hungry ghosts), Chikusho-do (path of animals), Shura-do (path of bellicose demons), Ningen-do (path of humans) and Ten-do (path of heavenly beings) during the period before Miroko Bosatsu (Buddha of the Future, Bodhisattva of the Present) appears in this world, and it is believed that each Jizo Bosatsu is dispatched to each world.

Jikkai means all the states of a human spirit categorized into 10 types according to the creed of the Tendai sect, including Rokudo (six posthumous worlds) as well as the four of states of Shomon, Enkaku, Bosatsu and Buddhahood.

Rokudo

Rokudo indicates the (reincarnated) worlds repeated mainly within a human.