{{Short description|12 Japanese Buddhist gods, associated with directions}} {{Multiple image | title = Twelve Devas<br><small>(14th-/15th-century hanging scrolls)</small> | image1 = Unknown (Japan) - Taishakuten - 79.2.6 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption1 = Taishakuten | image2 = Unknown (Japan) - Katen - 79.2.3 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption2 = Katen | image3 = Unknown (Japan) - Enmaten - 79.2.7 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption3 = Enmaten | image4 = Unknown (Japan) - Rasetsuten - 79.2.10 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption4 = Rasetsuten | direction = horizontal | total_width = 200 | perrow = 2/2/2/2/2/2 | image5 = Unknown (Japan) - Suiten - 79.2.2 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption5 = Suiten | image6 = Unknown (Japan) - Fūten - 79.2.4 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption6 = Futen | image7 = Unknown (Japan) - Bishamonten - 79.2.9 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption7 = Bishamonten | image8 = Unknown (Japan) - Izanaten - 79.2.5 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption8 = Ishanaten | image9 = Unknown (Japan) - Bonten - 79.2.8 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption9 = Bonten | image10 = Unknown (Japan) - Jiten - 79.2.1 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption10 = Jiten | image11 = Unknown (Japan) - Nitten - 79.2.11 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption11 = Nitten | image12 = Unknown (Japan) - Gatten - 79.2.12 - Minneapolis Institute of Art.jpg | caption12 = Gatten }}thumb|Twelve Deva Mandala, Kokubunji, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan The '''Twelve Devas''' or '''''Juniten''''' ({{langx|ja|十二天}}, ''Jūniten'' or {{langx|ja|十二大天衆}}, ''Jūnidaitenju'') are twelve Japanese Buddhist guardian deities (''devas'' or ''ten''), associated with directions and celestial bodies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - The Twelve Devas |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?langId=en&webView=&content_base_id=100031&content_part_id=0&content_pict_id=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp |publisher=National Institutes for Cultural Heritage}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kyoto National Museum |url=https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/collection/meihin/butsuga/item05/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Kyoto National Museum |language=en}}</ref> They are essentially Hindu gods, incorporated in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism (''Mikkyō'').<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / juuniten 十二天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/j/juuniten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp |publisher=Atsumi International Scholarship Foundation}}</ref>
Initially, the group consisted of eight deities called ''Happoten'' or ''Happouten'' ({{langx|ja|八方天}}), associated with the four cardinal and four semi-cardinal directions. Later, the deities of Heaven (Zenith) and Earth (Nadir) were added, making the group of ten – ''Jitten'' ({{langx|ja|十天}}). Finally, the Sun and the Moon deities joined the group to form the Twelve Devas.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kodama |first1=Giryū |title=印と梵字ご利益・功徳事典 聖なる象徴に表された諸尊の姿と仏の教え (In to bonji goriyaku / kudoku jiten: sei naru shōchō ni hyōsareta shoson no sugata to hotoke no oshie) |date=2009 |publisher=Gakken Publishing |page=256|isbn=9784054041875 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Y5-pwj_3x0C}}</ref>
The Twelve Devas are depicted together in a group, generally in paintings on folding screens which are used in esoteric rituals.
== List == The Twelve Devas are:<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> {| class="wikitable" |+ !No !Name !Japanese !Sanskrit Name !Hindu equivalent !Seed ([Bīja]){{Clarify|reason=What does "Seed" mean here?|date=July 2025}} !Direction/Association |- |1 |Taishakuten |{{lang|ja|帝釈天}} |{{translit|sa|Indra/Śakra }} |Indra |frameless|50x50px |East |- |2 |Katen |火天 |Agni |Agni |frameless|50x50px |Southeast, Fire |- |3 |Enmaten |焔魔天 |Yama |Yama |frameless|50x50px |South |- |4 |Rasetsuten |羅刹天 |Rākṣasa/Nirṛti |Rakshasa/Nirrti |frameless|50x50px |Southwest |- |5 |Suiten |水天 |Varuṇa |Varuna |frameless|50x50px |West, Water |- |6 |Futen (Fuuten) |風天 |Vāyu |Vayu |frameless|50x50px |Northwest, Wind |- |7 |Bishamonten |毘沙門天 |Vaiśravaṇa |Kubera (Vaisravana) |frameless|50x50px |North |- |8 |Ishanaten (Izanaten) |伊舎那天 |Iśana |Ishana/Shiva<ref>{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Daijizaiten 大自在天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/d/daijizaiten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}</ref> |frameless|50x50px |Northeast |- |9 |Bonten |梵天 |Brahma(n) |Brahma |frameless|50x50px |Zenith/Heaven |- |10 |Jiten |地天 |Pṛthivī |Prithvi |frameless|50x50px |Nadir/Earth |- |11 |Nitten |日天 |Sūrya/Āditya |Surya |frameless|50x50px |Sun |- |12 |Gatten |月天 |Candra |Chandra |frameless|50x50px |Moon |}
== History and functions == The Twelve Devas functioned as guardians of Esoteric Buddhist monasteries.<ref name=":1" /> They are generally represented as a group in paintings.<ref name=":2" /> The earliest known Japanese paintings of the Twelve Devas are found in Saidaiji Temple, Nara (early Heian period).<ref name=":0" /> Another set is found in Toji Temple in Kyoto, where they were used for esoteric rituals like the Latter Seven Days Ritual (''Goshichinichi no Mishiho'') for the New Year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> During the late Heian period (794–1185), a procession of beings, wearing the masks of the Twelve Devas (''juuniten men,'' 十二天面) was part of esoteric initiation rites. Later from the 12th century,<ref name=":2" /> the same was replaced by paintings of the deities, standing in pairs on six-panelled folding screens called ''juuniten byoubu'' (十二天屏風) during the initiation rituals (''abhiṣeka).''<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
The Twelve Devas also appear in the mandalas - ''Taizoukai mandara, juuniten mandara'' and ''Anchin mandara.''<ref name=":2" />
== Iconography == Early images of the Twelve Devas depict them seated on animals (''choujuuza''; e.g, Saidaji) or seated on felt pedestals and with two attendants (e.g., Toji, now in Kyoto National Museum).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Later paintings on folding screens usually depict them standing, sometimes on lotus pedestals.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
Taishakuten (the king of gods - Indra) and Bonten (the creator god Brahma) are two major Hindu deities who are often depicted as the protector of the Buddha, after assimilation in Buddhism. In Buddhism, Taishakuten is the king of the gods and ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Both deities are depicted dressed as Bodhisattvas. Both are depicted in life-events of the Buddha, on his either side, almost indistinguishable from each other.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Taishakuten 帝釈天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/t/taishakuten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Bonten 梵天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/b/bonten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}</ref>
In other depictions, Taishakuten is depicted as martial figure with a thunderbolt (vajra) in his right hand and left hand on his hip. He may be seated on an elephant.<ref name=":3" />
Bonten may be depicted with one or four heads.<ref name=":0" /> He has a third eye and four arms, holding a fly whisk, a lotus, a staff and hand with palm out. He may be seated on a pedestal of four geese.<ref name=":4" />
Katen (lit. "fire deva") is generally depicted as a serious-faced, aged hermit. His hair and beard are white. His complexion may be red. He is surrounded by a flaming aureole. He may have two or four arms. In his four arms, he generally holds a bamboo stick with some leaves or a staff, a fiery triangle, a rosary and a water vessel. He may ride a blue sheep.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Katen (Skt., Agni) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=007&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2024-08-29 |title=Images of Ka-ten (Agni) in Japan |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/essay/buddhist-iconography-comparative-study/d/doc1457189.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |publisher=National Institutes for Cultural Heritage}}</ref>
The compassionate-faced Enmaten holds a staff with a head at the top; his other arm is bent with the palm outwards. He may ride a buffalo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Enmaten (Skt., Yama) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=006&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Enmaten 焔魔天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/e/enmaten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}</ref>
Rasetsuten or Nirichi is the king of the demonic ''rasetsu'' (''Rakshasa''). He may be seated on a lion. He wears an armour. He may be depicted with a fiery halo. In his right hand, he holds a sword and makes a "sword" ''mudra'' (hand gesture) with his left hand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Rasetsuten (Skt., Raksasa, Nairrti) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=005&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / rasetsu 羅刹 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/r/rasetsu.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}</ref>
Suiten (lit "water deva") can be depicted as a fair water spirit, in vibrant garments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Suiten (Skt., Varuna) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=004&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref> He may depicted dressed in armour. He may have a snake-noose in his right hand, while the other hand is held against his waist as a fist. He wears a crown of serpents. His complexion may be depicted as light blue. He may be seated on a tortoise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2024-08-29 |title=Images of Sui-ten (Varuna) in Japan |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/essay/buddhist-iconography-comparative-study/d/doc1457205.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
Futen (lit. "wind deva") is depicted as an aged man. He holds the scepter of the wind.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Fûten (Skt., Vayu) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=003&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref>
Bishamonten (Tamonten) is clad in armour and holds a jewelled staff (''sansageki'') in his right hand and a jewelled pagoda (''houtou, stupa'') in the other hand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Bishamonten (Skt., Vaisravana) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=010&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JAANUS / Bishamonten 毘沙門天 |url=https://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/b/bishamonten.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.aisf.or.jp}}</ref>
Ishanaten holds a trident and a bowl, filled with blood.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Ishanaten (Skt., Isana) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=009&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref>
Jiten (lit. "earth deva") or Kenrojin (“solid earth deity”) may hold a vase or flowers in a basket in his hand.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Jiten (Skt., Prthivi) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=012&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref>
Nitten (lit. "sun deva") may be depicted similar to a ''bodhisattva''. He may be seated on a cart pulled by three to seven white horses. He may hold a lotus or a sun disc with a three-legged rooster in it.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Nitten (Skt., Surya) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=002&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nitten, the Sun Deity [one of a set of Twelve Devas], 14th-15th century |url=https://collections.artsmia.org/art/10347/nitten-japan |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=collections.artsmia.org}}</ref>
Gatten (lit. "moon deva") may be depicted similar to a ''bodhisattva''. He may be seated on a white goose. He sometimes holds a crescent moon with a rabbit on it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Museum - Gatten (Skt., Candra) |url=https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?content_base_id=100966&content_part_id=001&content_pict_id=0&langId=en&webView=0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=emuseum.nich.go.jp}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Twelve Devas (Japanese Buddhism)}}{{Japanese Buddhist Pantheon}}
Category:Japanese gods Category:Buddhist gods Category:Buddhism and Hinduism