Twelve Heavenly Generals

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The Twelve Heavenly Generals statues in the above image were made in Japan during the Kamakura period in the 13 century and were enshrined in Joruri-ji Temple in Kyoto. Currently, five statues have been deposited in Tokyo National Museum.

In East Asian Buddhism, the Twelve Heavenly Generals or Twelve Divine Generals are the protective deities, or yaksha, of Bhaisajyaguru, the buddha of healing. They are introduced in the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra.[1] They are collectively named as follows:

Names of generals[]

The precise names of the generals seem to vary depending on tradition. Those listed below are from an available Sanskrit transcription of the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaiḍūryaprabhārāja Sūtra:[3]

Sanskrit Hanzi Pinyin Rōmaji Vietnamese Tibetan (Wly.) Zodiac Honji
Kiṃbhīra 宮毘羅 Guānpíluò
Jīnpíluò		 Kubira
Kompira (Shinto)		 Cung Tỳ La Ji 'jigs Boar Maitreya
Vajra 伐折羅 Fázhéluò Basara, Bazara Phạt Chiết La Rdo rje Dog Mahāsthāmaprāpta
Mekhila 迷企羅 Míqǐluò Mekira, Meikira Mê Súy La Rgyan 'dzin Rooster Amitābha
Antila 安底羅 Āndǐluò Anchira, Anteira An Để La Gza' 'dzin Monkey Avalokiteśvara
Anila 頞儞羅 Ènǐluò Anira Át Nể La Rlung 'dzin Sheep Mārīcī
Saṇṭhila 珊底羅 Shāndìluò Sanchira, Santeira San Để La Gnas bcas Horse Ākāśagarbha
Indala 因達羅 Yīndàluò Indara Nhân Đạt La Dbang 'dzin Snake Kṣitigarbha
Pāyila 波夷羅 Bōyìluò Haira Bà Di La Gtun 'dzin Dragon Mañjuśrī
Mahāla 摩虎羅 Mòhǔluò Makora
Makura		 Ma Hổ La Sgra 'dzin Rabbit Bhaiṣajyaguru
Cidāla (Kiṃnara) 真達羅 Zhēndàluò Shintara
Shindūra		 Chân Đạt La Bsam 'dzin Tiger Samantabhadra
Caundhula 招杜羅 Zhāodùluò Shōtora
Shatora		 Chiêu Đổ La 'dzin Ox Vajrapāṇi
Vikala 毘羯羅 Píjiéluò Bikara
Bigyara		 Tỳ Yết La Rdzogs byed Mouse Śākyamuni
One of the Twelve Heavenly Generals at the Tokyo National Museum.
Another one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals.

While the Honji and zodiac correspondences listed above are the standard in Japanese sources, there is variation among texts and regional traditions.[4]

Popular culture[]

  • Statues of the Twelve Heavenly Generals stand in Ngong Ping, Hong Kong.
  • The Heavenly Generals and their names were used as character material for the powerful digital monster characters who serve the "Four Holy Beasts" (Digimon Sovereigns in the English Dub) in the Digital World, from the 2001 series Digimon Tamers, albeit with the names mismatched.
  • Granblue Fantasy started to release series of playable units in 2015 which called 'The 12 Divine Generals'. Each of these units are named after the corresponding zodiac they represent. The Japanese Version use adapted Hepburn Romanization, while the English Version adapted from Sanskrit

References[]

  1. ^ Mary Neighbour Parent (2001). "JAANUS - Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System". Japanese Architectural and Art Historical Terminology (online ed.). Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  2. ^ Mark Schumacher. "12 Divine Generals of Yakushi Buddha". A to Z Photo Dictionary: Japanese Buddhist Statuary. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  3. ^ "Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharājasūtram". Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  4. ^ "薬師十二神将". Flying Deity Tobifudo. Retrieved 2019-03-02.

External links[]

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