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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 Courtesy
Tobifudo (J-site)
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Last Update: Oct. 17, 2007 - Added text & images
Zōchōten, Zochoten, Zouchouten, Zojo
Sanskrit = Virudhaka
Associations: South, Summer, Red, Fire
Member of the TENBU, DEVA, and SHITENNO
ORIGIN: Hindu Deity incorporated into Buddhism
Zōchōten, Hase Dera in Kamakura (Metal, Modern)
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
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Zochouten, H = 202.2 cm
Kōfukuji 興福寺 Temple
Painted Wood, 12th C.
Yosegi-zukuri
Photo Source:
Vol. 1 日本の仏像
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Zochoten 増長天 (Zōchōten) literally means "lord who expands, lord who enlarges." This is sometimes translated as Sprouting Growth, to indicate Zochoten's role as a catalyst of spiritual growth.
Zochoten is one of the four Shintenno, a group of fierce-looking (忿怒相 funnusō) guardian deities who protect the four cardinal directions. In artwork, the four typically surround the central deity on Buddhist altars. Zochoten protects the southern quarter. Like the other members of the Shintenno group, Zochoten is dressed in armor (yoroi 鎧) and standing atop a demon (jaki 邪鬼). Zochoten is often depicted holding a halberd in the right hand, with the left hand clenched on the hip. However, the deity's attributes are not rigidly prescribed. The oldest statue of Zōchōten in Japan (see photo below), dated to the middle 7th century, is located at Hōryūji Temple 法隆寺 in Nara.
Zochoten by tradition is attended/served by the Gaki 餓鬼 (hungry ghosts; Skt. = Preta-gati) and the Kuhanda 鳩槃荼 (Skt. = Kumbhanda), a type of spirit-sucking Yasha 夜叉 (Skt. = Yaksha) who drain the vitality of people, said in some texts to have human form but with the head of horse, or said to be demons shaped like gourds, or to have scrotums shaped like gourds, or to have large scrotums; need to give Japanese name and source). In the Nichiren sects, Zochoten is #27 on the Gohonzon 御本尊 diagram.
Zochoten is the Buddhist equivalent to the red bird of Chinese mythology. In Tibet, Zochoten is often shown with blue complexion. Editor's note: The color associated with Zochoten in Japan appears to be red, as stated herein, but this has not been unequivically confirmed, nor does color seem to be rigidly prescribed. Zochoten's Tibetan name is Phag pa'i kye po and Chinese name Zeng-zhang. One resource says Zochoten's helmet is sometimes depicted as though made from the skin of an elephant's head, but in Japan, I have not yet found any examples of this.
Mantra for Zochoten
Sanskrit for Zochoten -- BI or VI
Zōchōten 増長天
Painted Wood, Height = 135.1 cm
Dated to early Kamakura era, 13th century
Mt. Kōya 高野山, Kongōbuji Temple 金剛峰寺
Originally located at Todaiji (Tōdaiji) Temple 東大寺
Photo Source = Vol. 10 日本の仏像
Zōchōten 増長天
Height = 187.2 cm, Wood and Dry Lacquer
Nara Era (Late 8th century), Tōshōdaiji Temple 唐招提寺
Photo Source = Vol. 13 日本の仏像
Zōchōten 増長天, H = 300 cm
Dated to Nara Era, 8th Century, Hollow Dry Lacquer
Todaiji (Tōdaiji) Temple 東大寺
Photo = Comprehensive Dictionary Japan's Nat'l Treasures
国宝大事典 (西川 杏太郎) ISBN 4-06-187822-0
Zōchōten 増長天, H = 184.2 cm, Wood
Dated to Heian Era, 839 AD
Toji (Tōji) Temple 東寺, Kyoto
Photo Source = Vol. 4 日本の仏像
Zōchōten 増長天, Wood, 12th Century
Chūsonji 中尊寺 Temple in Iwate Prefecture
Zōchōten 増長天, H = 93 cm, Wood with Pigment
Heian Era 11th-12th Century, Hōryūji Temple 法隆寺 in Nara
Four Shitenno, Horyuji (Hōryūji) Temple 法隆寺, Nara
Mid-7th Century. Oldest extant set of the four.
Kōmokuten 広目天, Zōchōten 増長天, Tamonten 多門天, Jikokuten 持国天
Painted Wood, Each Statue Approx. 133.5 cm in Height
Photos from Comprehensive Dictionary of Japan's Nat'l Treasures
国宝大事典 (西川 杏太郎. ISBN 4-06-187822-0.
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 (click image for more details)
Contemporary etching (glass) of the
8th century statue at Tōdaiji Temple 東大寺 in Nara
Courtesy: www.atomic77.net/5company/2003_6.html
LEARN MORE
- Shitenno, Four Heavenly Kings. Four Deva Kings. Guardians of East, West, North, South (the four cardinal directions). 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), Zochoten (South), Komokuten (West), and Tamonten (North).
- Sanskrit Characters (J-site; outside link)
- Prices for Antiques - Zochoten Page
http://www.prices4antiques.com/itemsummary/187420.htm
- 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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