Last Update: Oct. 2008. More Photos. New Text.

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SHITENNŌ = Four Heavenly Kings
Guardians of the Four Compass Directions
Four Celestial Guardians, Four Deva Warriors
Four Lords of Dharma (Buddhist Law)
Four Keepers of the World (Gose Shitennō)
Members of the Tenbu (Skt. = Deva)

ORIGIN:  Hindu but later
incorporated into Buddhism

Japanese Chinese Sanskrit Korean Tibetan 四天王 Shitennō 護世四天王 Gose Shitennō 四天王 Sì Tiān Wáng Ssu-T'ien Wang Maharāja; Catur mahā rājakāyikāḥ, Loka-pālatva, Lokala, Lokapala, Caturmaharaja 사천왕 Sa Cheon Wang Sa Ch'ŏn Wang Jig rten skyong ba nyid Four Heavenly Kings, the Shitennō At Hase Dera in Kamakura (life-size metal statues, modern) From Left: Tamonten, Jikokuten, Kōmokuten, Zōchōten Dressed in armor & trampling the Jaki (or Tentōki/Ryūtōki) OVERVIEW: Protectors of the four directions. They ward off evil. Each represents a direction, season, color, and element. They originated in India (as "deva generals" who protect Lord Indra), but were later adopted into the Buddhist pantheon in China and Japan. Each dwells in and protects one of the four continents surrounding Mt. Meru (home to the Historical Buddha and other deities). At temples in China and Japan, the four typically surround the central deity on Buddhist altars and are shown standing atop evil spirits (known as Jaki in Japan). However, the attributes of the four are not rigidly prescribed and thus differ among Buddhist nations. Shitennō iconography is related to the Four Celestial Emblems (dragon, red bird, tiger, turtle) of China, who also guard the four cardinal directions. See Shijin for more on the four Chinese creatures. In Japan, the four Shitennō and their attributes are typically given as: King of the East. Represents East, Spring, Water, Green/Blue (white in India & China). The Keeper of the Kingdom. J = Jikokuten 持國天 Skt = Dhṛtarāṣṭra C = Chíguó Tiān, Ch'ih-kuo T'ien K = 지국천, Jiguk cheon, Chiguk ch'ŏn Vietnam = Trì quốc thiên Rules over the Gandharvas and Piśācas.   King of the South. Represents South, Summer, Fire, Red (blue in India & China). Lord of Spiritual Growth, the Expander. J = Zōchōten 增長天 Skt = Virūḍhaka C = Zēngcháng Tiān, Tseng-ch'ang T'ien K = 증장천, Jeungjang Cheon, Chŭngjang Ch'ŏn Rules over the Kumbhāṇḍa 鳩槃荼.   King of the West. Represents West, Fall, Metal, White (red in India & China). Lord of Limitless Vision. J = Kōmokuten 廣目天 Skt = Virūpākṣa C = Guǎngmùtiān, Kuang-mu-t'ien K = 광목천, Gwangmokcheon, Kwangmokch'ŏn Vietnam = Quảng mục thiên The king with a third "all-seeing" eye. Rules over the Nāgas 龍 and Pūtanas 富單那.   King of the North. Represents North, Winter, Earth, Wealth, Black (yellow in India & China). All-Knowing Lord. J = Tamonten 多聞天 Skt = Vaiśravaṇa; also known as Dhanada C = Duōwén Tiān, Tuo-wen T'ien K = 다문천, Damun Cheon, Tamun Ch'ŏn Vietnam = Đa văn thiên The king who hears much and is well-versed. He is considered a manifestation of Kuvera (the Hindu god of wealth). In Japan, he is known as Tamonten or Bishamonten. Rules over the Yakṣas 夜叉 and Rākṣasas.   Lord of the Center. The four Shitennō are governed by Taishakuten 帝釈天 (Skt = Indra).   Four Heavens of the Four Kings J = Shitennōten 四天王天 Skt = Catur-maharāja-kāyikas C = Sì tiānwáng tiān, Ssu t'ien-wang-t'ien K = 사천왕천, Sa cheonwang cheon, Sa ch'ŏnwang ch'ŏn V = Tứ thiên vương thiên Says the Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (sign in with user name "guest): "The four are said to have appeared to 不空 Amogha in a temple in Xianfu (China), sometime between 742-6 AD, and in consequence he introduced their worship to China as guardians of the monasteries, where their images are seen in the hall at the entrance, which is sometimes called the 天王堂 (Hall of the Deva Kings. (see 四天王經 or 倶舍論 T 1559.29.198a29; other sources Muller, Soothill, Hirakawa).

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HISTORICAL NOTES: Guardians of the Four Directions, Protectors of Buddhist Law, Protectors of Human Kind, Protectors of the Bosatsu and Nyorai. Most often found standing at the corners of alters. Ferocious looking, sometimes with fiery halo behind them, often stepping on demons called Jyaki. They protect the Buddhist realm for Taishakuten (Skt. Indra, god of the center), serving as his generals to guard the territories inhabited by humans. Originally from Hindu mythology, and later incorporated into Buddhism. In the Lotus Sutra, they vow to protect those who believe in the Dharma (Buddhist teachings). In Japanese artwork, especially in the mandala form, the four typically appear in a set order, starting with East (Jikokuten), followed by Zouchoten (South), Komokuten (West), and Tamonten (North). All four are described in Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese texts, but their attributes, colors, and sometimes their names, often vary.

All four are depicted as warriors, and usually shown holding weapons, but there is no "hard" rule for the objects in their hands, and variations are common. Nevertheless, the objects they carry are always tools to eliminate evil influences and suppress the enemies of Buddhism. All four are Deva (Sanskrit), celestial beings who occupy the realm just above humans and just below the enlightened Bodhisattva. See Six Realms for details.

The Shitenno live halfway down the four sides of Mt. Shumisen (Mt. Sumeru or Mt. Meru, Jp. = Shumisen 須弥山), the mythical home of Shakya Nyorai (Historical Buddha). According to Buddhist lore, Mt. Sumeru is located at the center of the universe, surrounded by eight mountain ranges, and in the ocean between the 7th and 8th there are four continents inhabited by humans. These four continents are protected by the Shitenno, with each leading an army of supernatural creatures to keep the fighting Ashura at bay. On the top of Mt. Sumeru is the heavenly palace of Shakya Nyorai, and the abode of the Trayastrimsha (33 Gods) ruled by Taishakuten, who commands the Shitenno.

Shitenno symbolism and artwork in Japan reflects not only its Hindu origins, but also its association with the four mythical Chinese creatures -- the dragon, red bird, tiger, and tortoise. These four creatures, known as the Celestial Emblems of the Chinese Emperor, are also considered the guardians of the four compass directions, and appear prominently in artwork in China. Each has a corresponding season, color, element, and virtue -- so do each of the Shitenno. But in Japan, the four Chinese creatures are mostly supplanted by their Buddhist equivalents, the Shitenno.

Note: In Japan, there are statues of various followers of the Shitenno. These statues of the followers are referred to as the Shitenno Kenzoku. In Tibet, the guardians of the four directions are known as "Jjig-rtenskyong" and in Chinese as the "T'ien-wang." 

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to jump to that deity's page


Taishakuten or Taishaku
Sanskrit = Indra
The Lord of the Center
Commands the Shitenno
Lord of the Heaven of 33 Gods


Jikokuten
Skt = Dhrtarasta, Dhritarashtra
East, Spring, Green/Blue, Water
"Guardian of the Nation" or "Kingdom Keeper"


Zouchoten or Zochoten
Sanskrit = Virudhaka
South, Summer, Red, Fire
"One who Expands, One who Enlarges"
wisdom and increases moderation


Koumokuten or Komokuten
Sanskrit = Virupaksa, Virupaksha
West, Fall, White, Metal
"Wide Eyed," for he sees through evil,
discerns and punishes evil, and
encourages aspirations for enlightenment


Tamonten
Skt = Vaisravana, Vaishravana
North, Winter, Black, Earth
"Renowned, Well-Known One"
Also called Bishamonten, one of Japan's Seven Lucky Deities.
One who is all knowing, One who hears everything in the kingdom
One who is always listening; completely versed in Buddha's teachings
 The most popular and widely known of the four in Japan

Jaki or Jyaki or Amano Jyaku
Japanese = Jaki (Jyaki) 邪鬼 or Amano Jyaku 天邪鬼
Jaki is the name of the tiny creatures the four kings stand upon. Classified as members of the Yaksha in Japan; also referred to as the "Amano Jyaku (Heaven Jyaku)" in Japan. In a tradition unique to Japan, the Jaki demons are sometimes represented as the Tentōki (Tentoki) and Ryūtōki (Ryutoki) creatures, known as the Ryūtōki Ryūzō 竜燈鬼立像 in Japan, apparently in reference to a Japanese legend that says these creatures were originally evil, but after getting trampled by the Shitenno, they repented, were saved, and now carry lanterns as offerings of light to the Buddha, or to light up the road in front of the Shaka Nyorai (Historical Buddha). In general, both the Jaki and Tentouki/Ryuutoki represent the power of the Shitenno to repel and defeat evil. Two beautiful sculptures of Tentoki and Ryutoki can be found at Kofukuji Temple in Nara -- both sculptures are presented below, following the Jaki photos. 

Jyaki from 7th century, at Horyū-ji Temple, Nara
Scanned from temple brochure


Jyaki under the feet of Zouchoten
Horyū-ji Temple, Nara, 7th Century

Longmen Grottoes, China. Tang Dynasty.
Longmen Grottoes 龍門石窟; located near Luoyang City, Henan Province. The grottoes were created in phases over the centuries, with the oldest dating back to the last 5th century (Northern Wei Dynasty 386-534 AD), and the most recent completed in the 10th century (Tang Dynasty 618-907).


 Jaki (Jyaki) at Hase Dera in Kamakura (click for larger image)

Ryūtōki Ryūzō 竜燈鬼立像
Two Jaki 邪鬼 (demons, evil spirits) carrying lanterns.
Dated +1215, carved by Kōben
Kōfukuji Temple 興福寺 in Nara.
Wood with pigments. Japanese Cypress.
L: Ryutoki (Ryūtōki 龍燈鬼), H = 77.8 cm
R: Tentoki (Tentōki 天燈鬼), H = 78.2 cm
Inset crystal eyes (gyokugan 玉眼), Japanese Cypress
Jointed-Block Technique (寄木造)

These two Jyaki Demons 邪鬼 hold the lanterns
to light up the road in front of Shaka Nyorai.
See Offerings of Light for details on lanterns.

PHOTOS FROM CHINA (2008, Longmen, Beijing)
Click any image for larger photo and details.

LEARN MORE

• The Shitennō are linked to four legendary creatures of Chinese mythology (dragon, red bird, tiger, turtle), who also guard the four cardinal directions. See Shijin (Four Celestial Emblems) for more on these creatures. Above four photos courtesy of daiwagroup.com/fengshui/
   
• 28 Constellations, 28 Moon Lodges, 28 Moon Stations
  Learn more about each of the four quarters (north, south, east, west) and the seven constellations in each group. All 28 represent points in the moon's monthly path, and each was deified.
   
• In the Japanese Mandala, the Shitennō (Guardians of the Four Directions) are typically shown, from the top, starting with the eastern guardian. Thus, the typical order is Jikokuten (East), Zōchōten (South), Kōmokuten (West), and Tamonten (North).
   
• Great Mandala Study Group (outside link)
   
• 4 Heavenly Kings, Nichiren Tradition (outside link)
  "They appear in the ceremony of the Lotus Sutra with their 10,000 retainer gods in the "Dharani" (26th chapter). Therein, Jikokuten and Bishamonten pledge on behalf of all four to protect those who embrace the Lotus Sutra.
   
• Four Heavenly Kings (J-site; excellent; outside link)
   
• Sanskrit Characters (J-site; outside link)

Copyright 1995-2008. Mark Schumacher. Email Mark.
All stories and photos, unless specified otherwise, by Schumacher.
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