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Handbook on Viewing Buddhist Statues
A totally wonderful
book by Ishii Ayako.
Some images
at this site were
scanned from this
book; Japanese
language only;
192 pages;
80+ color photos
Click here to
buy book at Amazon
Sanskrit Characters
Tobifudo (J-site)
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Last Update: August 25, 2006
Added Photos, Text, & Links
Tamonten (also called Bishamonten)
Skt = Vaisravana, Vaishravana, Kubera, Kuvera
North, Winter, Black, Earth, Wealth & Treasure
Member of the Tenbu (Deva) and Shitenno
Member of Japan's Seven Lucky Deities
ORIGIN: Hindu Deity Incorporated Into Buddhism
Heian Era Mask of Tamonten
Photo Courtesy of Kyoto National Museum
One of the SHITENNO
Four Deva Kings, Four Heavenly Kings
Buddhist Guardians of East, West, North, South
Governed by Taishakuten (Skt. Indra), Lord of the Center
Links to All the Shitenno
Jikokuten | Zōchōten | Kōmokuten | Tamonten | Taishakuten
Tamonten atop a Jyaki Demon
7th Century, Horyuji Temple in Nara
Photo Courtesy of:
Comprehensive Dictionary of Japan's National Treasures
Published by Kodansha Ltd. 1985, ISBN 4-06-187822-0
Name literally means "Renowned, The Well Known One." Same as Bishamonten of Japan's Seven Lucky Deities. He who is all knowing, He who hears everything in the kingdom; he who is always listening; completely versed in Buddha's teachings. Said to be the most powerful of the four Shitenno, with the other three serving as his vassals. Also the most popular and widely known of the four in Japan. Also said to be the richest of the Shitenno, for he was rewarded with great wealth after practicing austerities for 1,000 years. Attended by the Yaksa (who guard the earth's treasures) and the Kinnara (celestial musicians with horse heads).
Tamonten protects holy places and places where Buddha expounds the teachings; carries pagoda-shaped treasure house in left hand (from which he gives wealth to only "the worthy;" right hand holds a spear; sometimes shown holding an umbrella, which wards off distractions and contamination. Also called the God of War, often referred to as the Black Warrior, protector of the righteous, and Buddhist patron of warriors. Sometimes shown holding a mongoose to represent his victory over the Nagas. Sometimes known as Kubera (or Kuvera), the "God of Wealth and Buried Treasure, The King of the Yaksa (Yaksha)," and in this manifestation is typically depicted in gold. One source says the Chinese sometimes call Tamonten by the Sanskrit name Dhanada (Bestower), and in China this manifestation is known as Duowen. In this latter manifestation, his associated animal is considered the ermine, or "snow weasel." Tamonten is the Buddhist equivalent to the turtle in Chinese mythology.
In the Japanese mandala, says the Great Mandala Study Group: "Tamonten is often depicted as yellow (as bright as 1,000 suns). In his right hand he holds an umbrella (to avoid distractions and contamination); in his left hand, a jewel-spitting mongoose, which can provide sentient beings with inexhaustible wealth. Because his breath is deadly, he always sits with his mouth shut." (Editor's note: The color associated with Tamonten varies in the various texts).
Mantra for Tamonten
VAI or BAI
Sanskrit Seed Syllable for Tamonten
Tamonten at Hase Dera in Kamakura (click for larger image)
Joruri-ji Temple in Kyoto
www.kyohaku.go.jp/meihin/mhind3e.htm
Tamonten (Bishiamonten)
Kamakura Period
www.narahaku.go.jp/meihin/
JYAKI (JAKI) DEMON - 邪鬼
In Japan, the Four Shitennō Guardians are almost always shown stepping on the Jyaki demon. Click here for more on this demon.
Jyaki at Hase Dera in Kamakura
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 VAISHRAVANA (Skt.)
TAMONTEN (Jp.)
THE BLACK WARRIOR
Below text & photo from:
antiquezen.com
Bronze Vajravana, Northern China, 15th century.
Vaishravana, in China, is the guardian of the North, the most powerful of the four Buddhist kings protecting the four directions of the compass. "He who is all knowing" and "He who hears all in the kingdom." He is often called the "black warrior" because his color is symbolically black and he presides over winter. He is shown here, holding the sacred mongoose. In Japan he is called Tamonten (this page) or Bishamonten, in China Duowen, and the Mongols called him Bisman Tngri. In Tibet he is most often known as Rnam Thos-kyi Bu or Rnam Thos-sras. He is known for his miracles and was worshiped by the hermit Myo-ren in Japan. Although he is a protector from evil, and is often seen trampling demons, here he rides the magical Keilown. In his arm is the magical staff or Trident of Wisdom. (Editor's Note: The mythical Chinese tortoise is also called the Black Warrior, but turtle imagery in Japan has been mostly merged with and supplanted by its Buddhist counterpart, Tamonten (this page).
KUBERA / KUVERA (Skt.)
Hindu God of Wealth. Says Meher McArthur, the curator of East Asian Art at the Pacific Asia Museum (Pasadena):
"In Tibet and Nepal, Vaishravana (Jp. = Tamonten, Bishamonten) is closely related to the God of Wealth, Kubera, who is considered to be his most important manifestation. It is possible that Vaishravana is the Buddhist form of the earlier Hindu deity, Kuvera/Kubera, who was the son of an Indian sage, Vishrava, hence the name, Vaishravana. According to Hindu legend, Kubera performed austerities for a thousand years, and was rewarded for this by the greator god, Brahma, who granted him immortality and the position of God of Wealth, and guardian of the treasures of the earth. As Vaishravana, this deity also commands the army of eight Yasha (Yaksa), or demons, who are believed to be emanations of Vaishravana himself. The most important of these eight are the dark-skinned Kubera of the north and the white Jambala of the east. Each of these emanations holds a mongoose that spews jewels. In Tibet and Nepal, he is worshipped as the God of Wealth in all three manifestations: Vaishravana, Kubera, and Jambala."
"In many Tibetan and Nepalese images of Kubera, the deity is shown as a plump figure wearing a crown, ribbons and jewelry, and holding a mongoose, representing this god's vistory over the naga (snake deities), who symbolize greed. As God of Wealth, Vaishravana / Kubera squeezes the mongoose and causes the creature to spew out jewels."
< quoted from McArthur's book "Reading Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Guide to Buddhist Signs & Symbols." ISBN 0-500-28428-8, Published 2002 by Thames & Hudson. Click here to view or buy book at Amazon. >
Tamonten, Plain wood, 51.5 cm
Asuka Period, 7th Century, Houryuu-ji Temple
Tamonten, 94 cm, Wood with Pigment
Heian Period, 12th Century, Houryuu-ji Temple
Tamonten, 110 cm Wood
Heian Period, 11th Century, Houryuu-ji Temple
LEARN MORE
- Tamonten is also known as Bishamonten, one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods. See the Bishamonten page for more details and more photos.
- Shitenno, Four Heavenly Kings
The Shitenno are also associated with four legendary creatures of Chinese mythology (dragon, red bird, tiger, turtle). See Shijin (Four Celestial Emblems) for more on these four creatures.
- 4 Heavenly Kings, Great Mandala Study Group (outside link)
- Four 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)
- In the Japanese Mandala, the Shitenno (Guardians of the Four Directions) are typically shown, from the top, starting with the eastern guardian. Thus, the typical order is Jikokuten (East), Zouchoten (South), Komokuten (West), and Tamonten (North).
- Sanskrit Characters (J-site; outside link)
- 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.
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