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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
Courtesy of:
www.tctv.ne.jp/
tobifudo/butuzo/
hotoke/hotokes.html
(Japanese site)
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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
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 | Zouchoten | Koumokuten | 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
Sanskrit for Koumokuten -- VI or BI
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 DEMON
In Japan, the Four Shitenno Guardians are almost always shown stepping on the Jyaki demon. Click here for more on this demon.
Jyaki at Hase Dera in Kamakura
 THE BLACK WARRIOR
Below text and photo courtesy of:
antiquezen.com
Bronze Vajravana, Northern China, 15th century.
Vajravana, in China, is the guardian of the North, the most powerful of the four Buddhist kings protecting the 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 or Bishamonten, in China Duowen, and the Mongols called him Bisman Tngri. In Tibet he is most often known as Rnam Thos-kyi. 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).
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LEARN MORE
- Shitenno, Four Heavenly Kings,
Commanded by Taishakuten
See the top page for the Shitenno for much more.
- Tamonten is also known as BISHAMONTEN, one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods.
- The Shitenno are also associated with the four legendary creatures of Chinese mythology. See Shijin for more on these four creatures.
- More Photos of Tamonten
- The Great Mandala (Gohonzon) Study Group
www.gakkaionline.net/mandala/4Kings.html
- Wonderful Site for Textual Info on Buddhism
campross.crosswinds.net/ShuteiMandala/4kings.html
Excerpt: "They appear in the ceremony of the Lotus Sutra with their ten thousand retainer gods; in the "Dharani" (26th chapter), Bishamonten and Jikokuten pledge on behalf of all four to protect those who embrace the Lotus Sutra."
- Nara National Museum - Japanese Language Only
http://www.narahaku.go.jp/meihin/
Wonderful photos of various deities
- Kyoto National Museum
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/meihin/mhind3e.htm
- Above Sanskrit Characters Courtesy of: (Japanese language site)
http://www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/butuzo/hotoke/hotokes.html
- Japanese Language Pages about Shitenno
www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/bonzisyo/set/4ten.html
- Diagram of Mt. Sumeru
The Buddhist Realm (Japanese language only)
www.tctv.ne.jp/tobifudo/HandS/tango/3000sekai/3senseksai.html
- In Japanese mandala, the four Shitenno guardians 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).
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