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Hachi Bushu (also called "Ninpinin")
The Eight Legions, The Eight Guardians
 Group of Eight Buddhist Guardian Deities

Members of the TENBU
Members of 28 LEGIONS

 Origin: India, Hindu Mythology

The Eight Legions are a curious set of Buddhist protectors, demons, and creatures, all originating in Hindu mythology. Among the eight groups, only the Ten (Deva) and Ryuu (Dragon) appear with great frequency in Japanese sculpture and artwork, while the other six are represented much less frequently. As a group, the Hachi Bushu are not objects of Buddhist worship, although individual Ten (Deva) are given independent status as objects of devotion (e.g., Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Daikokuten).

HISTORICAL NOTES: The Hachi Bushu (Eight Legions) are eight groups of sentient beings said to be present when Shaka Nyorai (Historical Buddha) expounded the Flower Sutra on Vultures Peak (also called Eagle Peak). These deities became objects of popular faith in India in the very early days of Buddhism, but originated in earlier Hindu mythology. They converted to Buddhism after listening to the words of Shaka Buddha, thereafter becoming guardians of Buddhist teachings. Not surprisingly, they are revered even today because of their long association with the Historical Buddha. The eight are discussed below; links to their individual pages (when available) are also provided. 

1. Ten (Skt: Deva). Celestial beings, 6th level of existence; see Tenbu
2. Ryuu (Skt: Naga). Serpent-like creatures, including dragons.
   Attendants to Koumokuten (Shitenno)
3. Yasha (Skt: Yaksa). Warriors of Fierce Stance, Nature Spirits.
   Protect Yakushi Nyorai, commanded by Tamonten (Shitenno)
4. Kendatsuba (Skt: Gandharva). Gods of music, medicine, children.
   Attendants to and commanded by Jikokuten (Shitenno); one of their kings is Sendan Kendatsuba
5. Ashura (Skt: Asura). 3 heads, 6 arms, 4th level of existence
6. Karura (Skt: Garuda) Bird-man, enemy of Ryuu and dragons
7. Kinnara (Skt: Kimnara). Celestial musicians and dancers; have human form but horse's head; commanded by Tamonten (Shitenno)
8. Magoraka (Skt: Mahoraga). Serpentine musicians

NOTE: The Ashura (Asura) and Tenbu (Deva) also populate two of the six states of existence. The lowest three states are called the three evil paths, or three bad states. They are (1) people in hells; (2) hungry ghosts; (3) animals. The highest three states are (4) Asuras; (5) Humans; (6) Devas. All beings in these six states are doomed to death and rebirth in a recurring cycle over countless ages -- unless they can break free from desire, from the cycle of suffering (i.e., Samsara in Sanskrit) and attain enlightenment. For more on the six states, plus Japanese spellings, click here.  

Below table uses Japanese characters

TEN TENBU Skt. Deva At Kofuku-ji in Nara, the Tenbu are represented by: 五部浄 Gobujyo Photo: Tamonten (aka Bishamonten), one of the most popular Tenbu in Japan; Heian Period, Kurama Dera, Kyoto	"Ten" or "Tenbu" is the Japanese term for Deva. The Deva (meaning "celestial beings") rank above the Asura and humans in the six stages of existence. Many devas have godlike powers, and reign over celestial kingdoms of happiness and splendor. Deva live countless years, but their lives eventually end, for the Deva are not yet free from the cycle of birth and death (the Six States). That distinction belongs only to the Bosatsu, the Rakan, and Nyorai (Buddha). Among the Eight Legions, the Deva are represented most often by Bonten, Taishakuten, the four Shitenno (especially Bishamonten), and the Goddess Benzaiten. The Tenbu are not Buddhist saviors, but rather spiritual beings high up on the ladder of enlightenment, above humans, but below the Bosatsu and Nyorai. They are revered as gods and goddesses in Japanese Buddhism, but they are always considered spiritually inferior to the Bosatsu and Nyorai. See Tenbu and Juniten for detailed listings of the many protector deities in the "Ten" (or "Tenbu") grouping. The Tenbu are heavily represented in the Nichiren sect, and appear frequently in mandalas. .
Ryuu Skt. Naga At Kofuku-ji in Nara, represented by Shakara 沙羯羅 （しゃがら）	Serpent-like creatures, including snakes and dragons. Their mortal enemy is the bird-man Karura. The dragon is one of the four mythical Chinese beasts protecting the four directions. The dragon is protector of the western quarter. See Shijin for more. As protectors of Buddhism, the Naga are attendants to Koumokuten (Shitenno).
Yasha Skt Yaksha 12 Yasha Warriors are typically shown protecting the Yakushi Nyorai. 鳩槃荼 くはんだ・ 薛茘多 （へいれいた）	Warriors of fierce stance, these protectors of Buddhist teachings are the guardian spirits of nature. In earliest Hindu records, they converted to Buddhism after listening to the Historical Buddha present his teachings at Vultures Peak. In the Mahabharatha text of India, Yama, the Lord of the Dead, assumes the form of a Yaksha to question his son. In their earliest Hindu manifestations, the Yaksha were spirits of the trees, forests, and villages. They could be both benign or demonic (when portrayed as demonic, they are flesh-eating demons that are sometimes called the Raksha (J = Rasetsu). The Rasetsu, moreover, might be particularly monstrous Yaksha, or alternatively, the Yaksha may be Rasetsu who have pledged to serve the Deva as guardians of forests and villages. There does not appear to be any clear iconography.When acting as protectors of Buddhism, the Yaksha are soldiers in the army of Tamonten, one of the Four Heavenly Kings. They are also protectors of the Yakushi Nyorai (Buddha of Healing and Medicine). Yaksha are powerful earth deities. They guard the world's wealth, such as gold and silver. Kubera (Kuvera), the god of wealth and buried treasure, is sometimes considered the king of the Yaksha, but I have been unable to confirm either the spelling or the iconography of Kubera. Even so, it appears that Kubera is a manifestation of Bishamonten. Yasha are mentioned in various sutras, yet there seems to be no definitive representation. Some texts say the Yasha are able to fly/move through space; in Java they are portrayed as sturdy, smallish human beings with unusually large canine teeth. In Japan, the Yaksha serve both Tamonten (aka Bishamonten) and Yakushi Nyorai, but in artwork they are mostly shown as protectors of the Yakushi Nyorai. In Japan, there is also the tiny creature called the JYAKI, who appear most frequently beneath the feet of the Shitenno. The Jyaki are classified as a type of Yaksha by the Japanese.
Kendatsuba Kendabba ?? Kandabba ?? Sanskrit: Gandharva 毘舎遮 Bishasha (J) Pisaca (S) 東方・持国天	In early Indian (Vedic) mythology, Kendatsuba was a protector serving Soma. Later, the Kendatsuba become musicians in the heavenly court of Taishakuten and protectors of Buddhist teachings, as well as deities of medicine, and guardians of children. In paintings, they are sometimes depicted sitting in royal ease surrounded by the twelve animals of the yearly cycle. Sometimes shown with halo; said to nourish themselves on scents. The Kendatsuba are attendants to and commanded by Jikokuten (Shitenno). In Japan, Sendan Kendatsuba, a king among the Kendatsuba, is known as a protector of children. He appears in the Hekija (Exorcist) scroll of the 12th century. Click here to learn more about Sendan Kendatsuba and view more photos.
Ashura Sanskrit: Ashura Asura Image: Ashura Nara period, 8th century (Kofuku-ji, Nara Pref.)	Beings just below humans in the Six States of Existence. Asuras are demigods, or semi-blessed beings. They are powerful, yet fierce and quarrelsome, and like humans, they are partly good and partly evil. In their earliest Hindu and Brahman manifestations, the Ashura are always fighting the Deva for supremancy (often battling the deities commanded by Taishakuten, or Indra). The Ashura are similar in some ways to the Titans of Greek mythology -- in one legend, they stand in the ocean with the water coming up to only their knees. Some accounts say Ashura was an Indian royal who converted to Buddhism. In other Hindu traditions, Ashura is a sun goddess, feared for bringing droughts. In early Vedic legends, which celebrate the victory of the Aryan invaders who entered India around 1500 BC and conquered the local Dravidian people, we find mention of the Asura King. The Aryans portrayed their own gods as benevolent heavenly beings, while the gods of the conquered people were demoted to serving as subjects of the Aryan deities. But the Asura King, one of the major gods of the conquered Dravidians, was a threat to the victors, and was subsequently demoted to demon status. According to Aryan lore, Asura was defeated by Taishaku (Indra) and hid thereafter in a lotus flower growing in the Icy Lake (Skt. = Anavatapta). The word asura was then sometimes translated as "non-god" or "anti-god" to complete the Aryan victory and to deny any chance of ranking the Asura among the heavenly gods. But with the emergence of Buddhism, Ashura is sometimes identified with sunshine and helping crops to grow. Many sources depict the Asura as demons, yet they are not always portrayed as sinister, and some are even godlike in their piousness. Among the truly evil was Vritra. In Japan, Ashura is often shown with three faces and six arms, with the side faces often expressing the violent warrior aspects associated with Ashura's Hindu origin. With Ashura's arrival to Japan in the 6th century from Korea and China, the deity is adopted as a guardian deity of Buddhism. Photo at Right. Modern mask reproduction Asura (Ashura) Sanjusangendo, 12th Century Lifesize Wooden Statue
Karura Sanskrit: Garuda	Karura are bird-men (man's head, bird's body). These creatures sprang from the Brahmanic pantheon, and were mortal enemies of the naga (serpents and dragons). It is said that only dragons who possess a Buddhist talisman or dragons who believe in the Buddhist teachings can escape from the Karura. In Japanese sculpture, the Karura are often represented as large ornate birds with human heads treading on serpents, but statues of the Karura are not very common in Japan -- the most well-known of these sculptures is at Kyoto's Sanjusangendo. Masks of the creature, however, including gyodo and noh masks, appear quite frequently, even in modern times. In South East Asia the walls of temples are often decorated with Karura, as at Angkor or Java. In some sculptures of Fudo Myo, there is a flame behind Fudo that some say was vomited by Karura.
Kinnara Sanskrit: Kimnara Photo courtesy of www.art-and-archaeology.com/ japan/sanjusang endo7.html	The Kinnara are heavenly musicians (and dancers?), depicted in early times with human bodies and horses heads. They are also represented in the shape of a bird with human head holding a musical instrument and are reputed to have marvelous voices. At Sanjusangendo in Kyoto, two of the 28 followers of Kannon in the temple are Taishakuten (Indra), and his attendant, Kinnara, who is playing the drum (see photo). The Kinnara also serve Tamonten (Bishamonten). Not commonly represented in the Buddhist artwork of Japan.   Kinnara is half-man, half-bird in Indonesian. Photo courtesy of http://www.kinnara.or.id/
Magoraka Makora Makura Sanskrit: Mahoraga At Kofuku-ji in Nara, Magoraka is represented by 畢婆迦羅 Hitsubakara ひつばから	Of all the people-like non-humans, the Magoraka are the most vague. In some Chinese dictionaries they are defined as "serpents who walk on their breasts." In other representations, they are serpentine musicians. They belonged originally to the Brahmanic pantheon, and in Buddhism were partly assimilated by the dragon. Photo at Right: Heian Era, by Chosei Housed at Koryu-ji Temple
Much of the above text was adapted from: http://nichirenreader.com/glossary.html

LEARN MORE

• www.art-and-archaeology.com/japan/japan.html
• www.art-and-archaeology.com/japan/finder1.html
• http://nichirenreader.com/glossary.html
• www.kinnara.or.id/
• http://web-japan.org/museum/bud/tenbu/tenbut.html
• www.narahaku.go.jp/99toku/99oyakoe.htm

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