The Shingon sect believed that all beings have an innate Buddha nature.
Hindu gods are still revered by many Japanese particularly in Shingon Buddhism.
Buddhism began to spread throughout Japan during the Heian period, primarily through two major esoteric sects,
Tendai and Shingon.
In Japan, when this mudra is used with the middle finger slightly projected forward,
it is a symbol of the Shingon Buddhism.
In Japan, when the Abhaya mudrā is used with the middle finger slightly projected forward,
it is a symbol of the Shingon sect.
The temple that best reflects the spirit of early Heian Shingon temples is the Muro-ji(early 9th century),
set deep in a stand of cypress trees on a mountain southeast of Nara.
The temple that best reflects the spirit of early Heian Shingon temples is the Muro-ji(early ninth century),
set deep in a stand of cypress trees on a mountain southeast of Nara.
Shingon(true word school)
is an indigenous sect with close affiliations to Chinese influenced Buddhist thought founded by Kūkai(best known by his posthumous title Kōbō Daishi, 774- 835) who traveled to China and studied Indian and Chinese Buddhism, as well as Chinese calligraphy and poetry.