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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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Zouchoten or Zochoten
Sanskrit = Virudhaka
South, Summer, Red, Fire
Member of the TENBU, DEVA, and SHITENNO
ORIGIN: Hindu Deity incorporated into Buddhism
Modern metal statue of Zouchoten at Hase Dera, Kamakura
(click for larger image showing entire life-size figure)
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
Name literally means "one who expands, one who enlarges;" probably a reference to his role in helping people expand wisdom and increase moderation; relieves people of their suffering by helping them to expand their wisdom; usually holding a halberd in right hand, with closed left hand on hip; attended by the the Pretas (the hungry ghosts) and the Kumbhandas (spirit-sucking demons 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; a type of Ashura ??). Zouchoten is often shown with blue complexion in Tibet (not sure about this in Japan). Zouchoten is the Buddhist equivalent to the red bird of Chinese mythology. (Editor's note: The color associated with Zouchoten varies in the various texts. Tibetan name appears to be Phag pa'i kye po, and Chinese name Zeng-zhang. One resource says Zouchoten'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 Zouchoten
Sanskrit for Zouchoten -- BI or VI
(R) Contemporary etching (glass)
http://www.atomic77.net/
Click image for photo of full-size statue
Zouchoten at Chusonji Temple, 12th Century
Zouchoten (Virudhaka), 93 cm Wood with Pigment
Heian Era 11 to 12th Century, Houryuu-ji Temple
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 (click image for more details)
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), Zouchoten (South), Komokuten (West), and Tamonten (North).
- Sanskrit Characters (J-site; outside link)
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