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JUNI SHINSHO, JYUNI SHINSHOU
YAKUSHI KYOU, YAKSA GUARDIANS
Twelve Heavenly Generals (or Ministers)
Attendants to Yakushi Nyorai
Members of the Tenbu
Origin - India
The 12 Heavenly Generals protect and serve the Yakushi Nyorai (Skt. Bhaisajya, the Buddha of Medicine and Healing) -- they are rarely shown independently. In sculpture and art, they are almost always grouped in a protective circle around the Yakushi Nyorai, and many say they represent the twelve vows of Yakushi; others say the 12 were present when the historical Buddha introduced the "Healing Sutra;" yet others that they offer protection during the 12 daylight hours, or that they represent the 12 months and 12 cosmic directions, or the 12 animals of the 12-year Chinese zodiac. The Juni Shinsho are also members of the Tenbu (Sanskrit: Deva), a larger grouping of deities protecting the Buddhist realm.
 While interpretations differ, the Juni Shinsho are always depicted with fierce facial expressions and menacing martial stances. They usually wear armour, topped off with a helmet or spiked hair. Their main function is to protect Yakushi Nyorai, to protect those who read/believe in Buddhist writings that expand faith in Yakushi, to fight the enemies of Buddhism, and to wage war on sickness -- they are said to command the 80,000 pores of the skin in defending the health of the faithful. Their ferocious expressions represent their anger with evil deeds and evil people.
Yakushi Nyorai, along with his 12 attendants, arrived early in Japan (Asuka Period) from Korea and China, and soon appeared in temples throughout the nation. As such, the 12 Generals of Yakushi Nyorai are among the very first Buddhist deities to be introduced to Japan in the 6th and 7th century AD. By the Kamakura period, the twelve become associated/confused with the 12 animals (see details below before jumping to the 12 Zodiac Animals page) of the Chinese zodiac, and sculptures thereafter often show an animal in the head dress of each general.
Below Table. The terms Daisho and Taisho come from the Butsuzo-zu-i.
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Name
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Sanskrit
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Japanese
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Associations
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Bikara Taisho
or Bikyara
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Vikarala
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red; armed with a three-pointed vajra; boar
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Shotora Taisho
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Catura
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blue; armed with mallet or sword; dog
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Shindara Taisho
or Kimnara
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Sindura
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yellow; armed with rope or fly-whisk, pilgrim's staff (khakkara); rooster
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Makora Taisho
or Makura
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Mahoraga
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white; armed with axe; monkey
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Haira Taisho
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Pajra
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red; armed with mallet, a bow or arrow; sheep
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Indara Taisho
or Indatsura
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Indra
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red; armed with staff or halberd; horse
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Sanchira Taisho
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Sandilya
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gray; armed with sword or conch shell; snake
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Anira Taisho
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Anila
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red; armed with trident or arrow; dragon
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Anchira Taisho
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Andira
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green; armed with mallet or fly-whisk; rabbit
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Mekira Taisho
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Mihira
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yellow; armed with vajra; tiger
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Basara Taisho
or Bajira
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Vajra
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white; armed with sword; ox; the one who protects mankind, bringing people's aspirations to fruition
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Kubira Taisho
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Khumbhira
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yellow; armed with vajra; rat
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These deities are also referred to as the Yaksha, a Hindi term for "nature spirit," or "warriors of fierce stance." The twelve Japanese generals were derived from these early Indian manifestations. Note of Confusion. Some research says "Kubera or Kuvera" is king of the Yaksha and god of wealth or buried treasure, but I have been unable to confirm this. His attributes, again based on incomplete research, include a mongoose, club, pomegranite, water jar, and money pouch.
NOTE from:
www.mikalina.com/Texts/japan_buddhist_painting.htm
Marishiten (Marici), worshipped as a protection against fire and as the protector of warriors, is sometimes included as one of the twelve Yaksha Generals associated with Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru), the Buddha of Medicine. While he rarely appears in Chinese Buddhist art, this deity often appears in that of Japan and Tibet.
Click here to learn about Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, who is often surrounded by the 12 Heavenly Generals.
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Heian Era wooden statues by Chosei, at Koryu-ji Temple in Kyoto
Above L to R: Anchira, Indara, Makora
Below L to R: Mekira, Sanchira
courtesy www.jinjapan.org/museum/bud/tenbu/tenbu03/tenbu03.html
 
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 www.healing-touch.co.uk/yakushi.htm
They are sometimes said to protect the faithful through the hours of the day, the months and the directions of space. They wage war on sickness and are said to command the 80,000 pores of the skin. They are said to relate to each of the twelve vows of Bhaisajyaguru (Yakushi Nyorai).
In some traditions, the twelve warriors are believed to protect the faithful by presiding over the daylight hours, the months, and the directions of space. There are typically twelve, but sometimes only nine, generals whose armies wage war on sickness. These twelve warriors are also representative of the twelve vows of Bhaisajyaguru. Although described in Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese texts, the attributes assigned to them, as well as their colours (and sometimes their names), may vary.
Yakushi Nyorai with 12 Generals at the base
Toji Temple in Kyoto
photo courtesy of http://www.healing-touch.co.uk/yakushi1.htm
Click here for quick photo tour of their site
JUNI SHI - 12 Astrological "ZODIAC" Animals
Click here for more information (origin China)
In Japan, by the end of the Heian Period, these twelve generals become associated with the twelve animals of the twelve-year cycle based on the twelve divisions of heaven in ancient Chinese astronomy. As a result, in Japan, it is not uncommon to see depictions of the Twelve Generals with the astrological animals in their headdresses. See M. W. de Visser's charts relating the twelve Yaksa to zodiacal signs in Ancient Buddhism in Japan, Vol. II (Leiden: 1935, pp. 551-553)
- rat (Kubira, Kumbhira)
- ox (Basara, Bazara, Bajira, Vajra)
- tiger (Mekira, Mihira)
- rabbit (Anchira, Andira)
- dragon (Anira, Anila)
- snake (Sanchira, Sandilya)
- horse (Indara, Indra)
- sheep (Haira, Pajra)
- monkey (Makora, Mahoraga)
- rooster (Shindara, Sindura)
- dog (Shotora, Catura)
- boar (Bikara, Vikarala)
Each animal represents one year of a twelve year cycle. It also represents a day in a twelve-day cycle, and a two-hour period in each day, and a compass direction (not shown in above chart). There are different naming conventions, and sometimes the 12 Generals are associated with a different animal than listed above. For example, below is another common grouping that differs from the above list:
 Bikara Taisho - rat - Shotora Taisho - bull
- Shindara Taisho - tiger
- Magora Taisho - rabbit
- Haira Taisho - dragon
- Indara Taisho - snake
- Sanchira Taisho - horse
- Anira Taisho - sheep (or ram)
- Anchira Taisho - monkey
- Mekira Taisho - bird, hen, rooster
- Basara Taisho - dog
- Kubira Taisho - boar
Click here for more on the 12 astrological zodiac animals.
LEARN MORE
- Click here for drawings of all 12 Guardians (side page)
- Drawings of All 12
www.butsuzou.com/jiten/12sinsyo.html (all 12)
- Drawings of All 12 - Japanese Language Site
www.tctv.ne.jp/members/tobifudo/butuzo/12sinsho/12god1.html
- In Kamakura, the 12 Heavenly Guardians are housed in the Yakushido Hall at Kakuon-ji, and also at Kaizo-ji
- Excellent Photo Gallery of all 12, Plus Yakushi Nyorai
www.healing-touch.co.uk/yakushi1.htm
www.healing-touch.co.uk/pa-medb.htm
www.healing-touch.co.uk/yakushi9.htm
- Five Photos of the Generals, by Chosei
Heian period, 11th century, Koryuji Temple, Kyoto Prefecture www.jinjapan.org/museum/bud/tenbu/tenbu03/tenbu03.html
- Japanese Tibetan Indian Spellings and Photos
www.tctv.ne.jp/members/tobifudo/butuzo/12sinsho/12god1.html
- Wooden Statues Available for Online Purchase
www.butsuzou.com/jiten/nikogako.html
- www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/9305/bud3.html
- www.pandaemonium.net/menu/devil/12zinzou.html
- www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arena/9305/bud3.html
- www.koganet.ne.jp/~kitagawa/e_mika.html
- www2.cyberoz.net/city/sanden/prologue.htm
UNCONFIRMED RESEARCH
Unlike most Nyorai and Bosatsu, who look very Japanese, the Juni Shinsho, Shitenno, and Kongo Rikishi with their long curly hair and western features, are generally depicted as foreigners. (is this true? need to confirm !)
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