noun
In Buddhist contexts, refers to the indestructible, diamond-like substance or truth. Also used metaphorically for something extremely hard or unbreakable.
金剛石はダイヤモンドのことです。
金剛石 means diamond.
彼の意志は金剛の如く固い。
His will is as firm as adamantine.
noun
thunderbolt; Indra's weapon; Buddhist symbol
Specifically refers to the vajra as a ritual object or symbol in Buddhism, representing indestructible truth, or as the weapon of Indra in Hindu mythology.
密教の儀式では金剛杵が用いられる。
In esoteric Buddhist rituals, a vajra scepter is used.
金剛界曼荼羅は密教の重要な図像です。
The Diamond Realm Mandala is an important iconographic depiction in esoteric Buddhism.
From Middle Chinese 金剛 (MC kˠiɪm kɑŋ), a translation of Sanskrit वज्र (vajra), meaning both 'thunderbolt' and 'diamond'. The kanji literally mean 'gold' and 'hard/strong', reflecting the indestructible nature of the vajra.