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Last Update: Nov. 14, 2007. Myoken Bosatsu
Twenty-Eight Constellations
28 Moon Lodges, 28 Lunar Mansions
28 Deities in Shingon & Tendai Mandalas
Jp. = 二十八宿 = Nijūhasshuku
Chn. = 二十八宿 = èrshíbā sù

CELESTIAL DEITIES, HEAVENLY STARS

WHAT'S HERE North Seven South Seven East Seven West Seven 28 Mantras Big Dipper Mandala Genzu Mandala Myoken - Pole Star Glossary Resources RELATED PAGES Four Celestial Emblems Four Heavenly Kings 12 Zodiac Mansions 12 Generals of Yakushi 28 Legions of Kannon 28 Benefits from Jizo

An astrological grouping from ancient India that refers to 27 or 28 points that the moon passes through in one month and the associated star constellations found in the cosmic background. Each of these points (constellations) is associated with a deity, although the point-deity association varies among nations and sects. A similar grouping of 28 was developed independently in China. The Chinese merged their system with that from India following the introduction of Buddhism to China around the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. Unlike India, the grouping in China was always 28. It is the Chinese system that was imported by the Japanese. The 28 moon lodges or 28 lunar mansions (as they are often called in English) are divided into four clusters, with each cluster made up of seven constellations. The four clusters represent the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west). Each cluster is associated with one of Four Celestial Emblems (turtle, red bird, dragon, white tiger), a Buddhist guardian deity (the Four Heavenly Kings), a season, a color, and numerous other attributes. These associations and attributes are presented below. In Japan, the 28 deities of the 28 moon lodges are often represented in the Big Dipper Mandala (Hokuto Mandara 北斗曼荼羅) and Star Mandala (Hoshi Mandara 星曼荼羅) of Japan's esoteric sects. The great complexity of Asian astronomy and Buddhist cosmology gets even more complicated, for there is no single standard for classifying and deifying the celestial bodies. Below, for each of the four clusters, we feature two of the most common groupings of the 4 X 7 = 28 matrix.

Star Mandala 星曼荼羅 Modern Japanese Reproduction Ichijikinrin Butchō 一字金輪仏頂 at center. Seven Stars of Big Dipper, plus the Nine Planets, appear in inner section. Twelve Zodiac Animals appear in middle section. 28 Celestial Maidens appear in outer section. More photos below. Photo at left from this J-site

NORTH Seven Lunar Mansions of the Tortoise (Two Common Japanese Groupings for Seven Northern Moon Lodges) GENBU 玄武 (Tortoise) Black, Winter Water, Cold, Void GROUPING ONE - CHINA, JAPAN Northern Moon Lodges Japanese Reading | Chinese | Sanskrit Source: Shukuyō-kyō 宿曜経 GROUPING TWO - JAPAN Deities in GENZU MANDALA 現図曼荼羅 Shingon/Tendai Deities (Celestial Females) Jp. Reading | Chinese | (Sanskrit) | Deity Name 1 Toshuku 斗宿 Uttara-Aṣāḍhā 1 Kyoshuku 虚宿 (Dhanistha) 愛財天 2 Gyūshuku 牛宿 Abhijit 2 Kishuku 危宿 (Satabhisaj) 百薬天 3 Joshuku 女宿 Śravaṇā 3 Shisshuku 室宿 (Purvabhadrapada) 賢鉤天 4 Kyoshuku 盧宿 Śraviṣṭha (Dhaniṣṭhā) 4 Hekishuku 壁宿 (Uttara-bhadrapada) 百辞天 5 Kishuku 危宿 Śatabhiṣā 5 Keishuku 奎宿 (Revati) 多羅天 6 Shisshuku 室宿 Pūrva-Proṣṭhapada 6 Rōshuku 婁宿 (Asvini) 阿湿毘「イ＋爾」天 7 Hekishuku 壁宿 Uttara-Proṣṭhapada 7 Ishuku 胃宿 (Bharani) 満者天 TURTLE'S BUDDHIST COUNTERPART = BISHAMONTEN 毘沙門天 Star Chart by Steve Renshaw & Saori Ihara KEY TO BELOW LIST (corresponds to left column above) Chinese | Meaning | Jp. Star Reading | Sanskrit Spelling | (Western Constellation) 1. 斗, Dipper / Measure, Hikitsu Boshi, Uttara-Aṣāḍhā (Phi Sgr, Sagittrius) 2. 牛, Cow / Ox, Inami Boshi, Abhijit (Beta Cap, Capricorn) 3. 女, Female, Uruki Boshi, Śravaṇā (Epsilon Aqr, Aquarius) 4. 虚, Emptiness, Tomite Boshi, Śraviṣṭhā / Dhaniṣṭhā (Beta Aqr, Aquarius) 5. 危, Roof Top, Umiyame Boshi, Śatabhiṣā (Alpha Aqr, Aquarius/Pegasus) 6. 室, Room / Encampment, Hatsui Boshi, Pūrva-Proṣṭhapada (Alpha Peg, Pegasus) 7. 壁, Wall, Namame Boshi, Uttara-Proṣṭhapada (Gamma Peg, Pegasus)

NORTH Seven Celestial Maidens in Northern Cluster, Genzu Mandala 現図曼荼羅 Shingon Sect of Esoteric Japanese Buddhism. Click image to enlarge. Source: Museum Reihokan Koyasan (J-Site, Shingon) 1 愛財天 2 百薬天 3 賢鉤天 4 百辞天 5 多羅天 6 阿湿毘 「イ＋爾」天 7 満者天

SOUTH Seven Lunar Mansions of the Red Bird (Two Common Japanese Groupings for Seven Southern Moon Lodges) SUZAKU 朱雀 (Red Bird) South, Red Summer, Fire GROUPING ONE - CHINA, JAPAN Southern Moon Lodges Japanese Reading | Chinese | Sanskrit Source: Shukuyō-kyō 宿曜経 GROUPING TWO - JAPAN Deities in GENZU MANDALA 現図曼荼羅 Shingon/Tendai Deities (Celestial Females) Jp. Reading | Chinese | (Sanskrit) | Deity Name 1 Seishuku 井宿 Punarvasu 1 Seishuku 星宿 (Magha) 摩伽天 2 Kishuku 鬼宿 Tiṣya (or Puṣya) 2 Chōshuku 張宿 (Purva-phalguni) 間錯天 3 Ryūshuku 柳宿 Aśleṣā 3 Yokushuku 翼宿 (Uttara-phalguni) 果徳天 4 Seishuku 星宿 Maghā 4 Shinshuku 軫宿 (Hasta) 阿悉多天 5 Chōshuku 張宿 Pūrva-Phalgunī 5 Kakushuku 角宿 (Citra) 質多羅天 6 Yokushuku 翼宿 Uttara-Phalgunī 6 Kōhuku 亢宿 (Svati) 自記天 7 Shinshuku 軫宿 Hastā 7 Teishuku てい宿 (Visakha) 尾捨「イ＋去」天 RED BIRD'S BUDDHIST COUNTERPARTS = PHOENIX 鳳凰 & ZŌCHŌTEN 増長天 Star Chart by Steve Renshaw & Saori Ihara KEY TO BELOW LIST (corresponds to left column above) Chinese | Meaning | Jp. Star Reading | Sanskrit Spelling | (Western Constellation) 1. 井, Well, Chichiri Boshi, Punarvasu (Mu Gem, Gemini) 2. 鬼, Ogre/Demon, Tamahome Boshi, Tiṣya/Puṣya (Delta Cnc, Theta Cnc, Cancer) 3. 柳, Willow, Nuriko Boshi, Aśleṣā (Delta Hya, Hydra) 4. 星, Star, Hotohori Boshi, Maghā (Alpha Hya, Alphard) 5. 張, Stretched Net, Chiriko Boshi, Pūrva-Phalgunī (Nu Hya, Crater) 6. 翼, Wings, Tasuki Boshi, Uttara-Phalgunī (Alpha Crt, Corvus) 7. 軫, Chariot Cross-Board, Mitsukake Boshi, Hastā (Gamma Crv, Corvus)

SOUTH Seven Celestial Maidens in Southern Cluster, Genzu Mandala 現図曼荼羅 Shingon Sect of Esoteric Japanese Buddhism. Click image to enlarge. Source: Museum Reihokan Koyasan (J-Site, Shingon) 1 摩伽天 2 間錯天 3 果徳天 4 阿悉多天 5 質多羅天 6 自記天 7 尾捨 「イ＋去」天

EAST Seven Lunar Mansions of the Blue-Green Dragon (Two Common Japanese Groupings for Seven Eastern Moon Lodges) SEIRYUU 青龍 (Dragon) East, Blue-Green Spring, Wood GROUPING ONE - CHINA, JAPAN Chinese | Sanskrit Names Eastern Moon Lodges Source: Shukuyō-kyō 宿曜経 GROUPING TWO - JAPAN Deities in GENZU MANDALA 現図曼荼羅 Shingon/Tendai Deities (Celestial Females) Jp. Reading | Chinese | (Sanskrit) | Deity Name 1 Kakushuku 角宿 Citrā 1 Bōshuku 昴宿 (Krttika) 作者天 2 Kōshuku 亢宿 Niṣṭyā (or Svāti) 2 Hisshuku 畢宿 (Rohini) 木者天 3 Teishuku 氐宿 Viśākhā 3 Shishuku 觜宿 (Mrgasiras) 烏頭天 4 Bōshuku 房宿 Anurādhā 4 Sanshuku 参宿 (Ardra) 米湿天 5 Shinshuku 心宿 Rohiṇī, Jyeṣṭhaghnī 5 Seishuku 井宿 (Punarvasu) 服財天 6 Bishuku 尾宿 Mūlabarhaṇī (or Mūla) 6 Kishuku 鬼宿 (Pusya) 増益天 7 Kishuku 箕宿 Pūrva-Aṣādha 7 Ryūshuku 柳宿 (Aslesa) 不染天 DRAGON'S BUDDHIST COUNTERPART = JIKOKUTEN 持国天 Star Chart by Steve Renshaw & Saori Ihara KEY TO BELOW LIST (corresponds to left column above) Chinese | Meaning | Jp. Star Reading | Sanskrit Spelling | (Western Constellation 1. 角, Horns (perhaps Angle, Corner), Su Boshi, Citrā (Alpha Vir, Spica) 2. 亢, Neck, Throat, Ami Boshi, Niṣṭyā or Svāti (Kappa Vir, Virgo) 3. 氐, Root or Shoulder, Tomo Boshi, Viśākhā) (Iota Lib, Alpha Lib, Libra) 4. 房, Chamber or Breasts, Soi Boshi, Anurādhā (Delto Sco, Pi Scho, Libra) 5. 心, Heart, Nakago Boshi, Rohiṇī or Jyeṣṭhaghnī or Jyeṣṭhā (Sigma Sco, Antares) 6. 尾, Tail, Ashitare Boshi, Mūlabarhaṇī or Mūla (Mu Sco, Scorpius) 7. 箕, Basket, Mi Boshi, Pūrva-Aṣādhā (Gamma Sgr, Eta Sgr, Sagittrius)

EAST Seven Celestial Maidens in Eastern Cluster, Genzu Mandala 現図曼荼羅 Shingon Sect of Esoteric Japanese Buddhism. Click image to enlarge. Source: Museum Reihokan Koyasan (J-Site, Shingon) 1 作者天 2 木者天 3 烏頭天 4 米湿天 5 服財天 6 増益天 7 不染天

WEST Seven Lunar Mansions of the White Tiger (Two Common Japanese Groupings for Seven Western Moon Lodges) BYAKKO 百虎 (White Tiger) White, Autumn, Metal GROUPING ONE - CHINA, JAPAN Chinese | Sanskrit Names Western Moon Lodges Source: Shukuyō-kyō 宿曜経 GROUPING TWO - JAPAN Deities in GENZU MANDALA 現図曼荼羅 Shingon/Tendai Deities (Celestial Females) Jp. Reading | Chinese | (Sanskrit) | Deity Name 1 Keishuku 奎宿 Revatī 1 Bōshuku 房宿 (Anuradha) 随事天 2 Rōshuku 婁宿 Aśvayuj (or Aśvinī) 2 Shinshuku 心宿 (Jyesth) 尊天 3 Ishuku 胃宿 Apabharaṇī (or Bharaṇī) 3 Bishuku 尾宿 (Mula) 辰天 4 Bōshuku 昴宿 Kṛttikā 4 Kishuku 箕宿 (Purvasadha) 杏天 5 Hisshuku 畢宿 Rohiṇī 5 Toshuku 斗宿 (Uttarasadha) 大光天 6 Shishuku 觜宿 Invakā (or Mṛgaśiras) 6 Gyūshuku 牛宿 (Abhijit) 対主天 7 Shinshuku 參宿 Bāhu (or Ārdrā) 7 Joshuku 女宿 (Sravana) 寂天 WHITE TIGER'S BUDDHIST COUNTERPART = KŌMOKUTEN 広目天 Star Chart by Steve Renshaw & Saori Ihara KEY TO BELOW LIST (corresponds to left column above) Chinese | Meaning | Jp. Star Reading | Sanskrit Spelling | (Western Constellation) 1. 奎, Stride / Foot, Tokaki Boshi, Revatī (Delta And, Andromeda) 2. 婁, Hill / Lasso / Bellows, Tatara Boshi, Aśvayuj or Aśvinī (Beta Ari, Aries) 3. 胃, Stomach, Ekie Boshi, Apabharaṇī or Bharaṇī (35 Ari, Aries) 4. 昴, Stopping Place / United, Subaru Boshi, Kṛttikā (17 Tau, 16 Tau, Pleiades) 5. 畢, Net (related to Rain?), Amefuri Boshi, Rohiṇī (Epsilon Tau, Taurus) 6. 觜, Turtle Snout, Toroki Boshi, Invakā or Mṛgaśiras (Lamda Ori, Phi Ori, Orion) 7. 參, Investigate / Three, Kagasuki Boshi, Bāhu / Ārdrā (Delta or Beta Ori, Orion)

WEST Seven Celestial Maidens in Western Cluster, Genzu Mandala 現図曼荼羅 Shingon Sect of Esoteric Japanese Buddhism. Click image to enlarge. Source: Museum Reihokan Koyasan (J-Site, Shingon) 1 随事天 2 尊天 3 辰天 4 杏天 5 大光天 6 対主天 7 寂天

Source of Below Diagram of 28 Celestial Maidens: Philipp Franz von Siebold. 1832-54 Nippon. Archiv zur Beschreibung von Japan. Nippon Archiv zur Beschreibung von Japan, Leiden (1831 CE) Learn about this monumental pre-Meiji publication at this outside site. JAPANESE MANTRAS FOR 28 CELESTIAL DEITIES Courtesy this J-Site EAST: 東方七宿 1. 昴宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　きりちきゃ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 2. 畢宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ろきに　のうきしゃたら　そわか 3. 觜宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ひりぎゃしら　のうきしゃたら　そわか 4. 参宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　あんだら　のうきしゃたら　そわか 5. 井宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ぶのうばそ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 6. 鬼宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　びじゃや　のうきしゃたら　そわか 7. 柳宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　あしゃれいしゃ　のうきしゃたら　そわか SOUTH: 南方七宿 1. 星宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　まぎゃ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 2. 張宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ほらは　はらぐ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 3. 翼宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　うったら　はらろぐ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 4. 軫宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　かしゅた　のうきしゃたら　そわか 5. 角宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　しったら　のうきしゃたら　そわか 6. 亢宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　そばてい　のうきしゃたら　そわか 7. 氐宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　そしゃきゃ　のうきしゃたら　そわか WEST: 西方七宿 1. 房宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　あどらだ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 2. 心宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　せいしゅった　のうきしゃたら　そわか 3. 尾宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ぼうら　のうきしゃたら　そわか 4. 箕宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ふるばあしゃだ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 5. 斗宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　うったらあしゃだ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 6. 牛宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　あびしゃ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 7. 女宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　しらまな　のうきしゃたら　そわか NORTH: 北方七宿 1. 虚宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　だにしゅた　のうきしゃたら　そわか 2. 危宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　しゃたびしゃ　のうきしゃたら　そわか 3. 室宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ほらば　ばつだらやち　のうきしゃたら　そわか 4. 壁宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　うたのう　ばっだらば　のうきしゃたら　そわか 5. 奎宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　りはち　のうきしゃたら　そわか 6. 婁宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　あしんび　のうきしゃたら　そわか 7. 胃宿 のうまく　さんまんだ　ぼだなん　ばらに　のうきしゃたら　そわか