# Buddha — The Book of Tea character guide

> Buddha in The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzō.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Buddha

**First appearance:** 0004-iii-taoism-and-zennism

## Who they are

Enlightened being central to Buddhist philosophy in the book.

## Relationships

### [Tanka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/tanka)

_psychological_

Tanka's act of burning a Buddha statue exemplifies a Zen teaching that attachment to icons must be transcended.

### [Empress Komio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/empress_komio)

_psychological_

Empress Komio is a legendary figure who offered a robe to the Buddha, symbolizing devotion and the transfer of merit.

### [Laozi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/laozi)

_social_

Buddha and Laozi are often syncretized in East Asian thought as complementary enlightened masters.

### [Rikiu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/rikiu)

_psychological_

Rikiu's tea ceremony embodies Zen Buddhist principles, making the Buddha a spiritual ideal rather than a personal acquaintance.

### [Confucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/confucius)

_social_

Buddha and Confucius are frequently paired in Chinese thought as two great teachers, though their teachings diverge significantly.

### [Sakyamuni](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/sakyamuni)

_family_

Buddha and Sakyamuni are the same figure—the historical Buddha—though sometimes distinguished as the enlightened being versus the human teacher.

### [Tanka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/tanka)

_psychological_

Tanka is a Zen figure who famously burned a wooden Buddha statue for warmth, representing a radical, iconoclastic relationship with the historical Buddha.

### [Empress Komio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/empress_komio)

_psychological_

Empress Komio is a legendary figure who offered a robe to the Buddha, symbolizing devotion and the transfer of merit.

### [Rikiu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/rikiu)

_psychological_

Rikiu's tea ceremony embodies Zen Buddhist principles, making the Buddha a spiritual ideal rather than a personal acquaintance.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters/buddha
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_tea_se/characters