Japanese maybe Chinese > English This is an interpretation of the god Bishamonten in a manga I'm reading Can someone translate what's written on his loincloth? Thanks! : translator

Of interest is the shrine enshrining 10,000 images of Kannon. Also of interest is the thousand-year-old Keyaki tree and the large statue in front of the main gate of Ushi-oni . Legend states that in the 16th century, a devil animal with an ox head and a body like a fox appeared frequently on this plateau and scared the local people. A brave samurai named Kurando Yamada, an archery expert, shot the devil, cut off its head, and brought it to the temple in memory of the dead devil. The people called the animal Ushi-oni and believed that it had the power to purge an evil force.

She says that the first to assemblages of 2, 3 or 5 of them appeared in the late 15th century. While we don’t have an image of that wood block print from Lung Men we do have a picture from those fine people at Harvard of a huge carved relief sculpture at the entry to cave 19. As best I can tell the fellow holding the pagoda is Bishamon. In a 1906 volume of Kokka there is a one page entry entitled “Portrait of Bishamon-ten ”. Joly in 1906 identified Bishamon as one of the san-sen-jin (三戦神) or war gods.

Because the names of the Juuni Shinshou were transliterated from Sanskrit to Chinese, they tend to vary. The aim of this site is to provide down to earth, thought provoking content to inspire higher thinking, infuse positive energy, expand consciousness and promote self awareness.Follow me on Faceboook. The name Vasudhara translates to “stream of gems” in Sanskrit. She is one of the most popular goddesses worshiped in Buddhist cultures, viewed as a generous and compassionate deity who blesses her followers with both material and spiritual wealth. Caishen is honored as the God of money and wealth in both Chinese and Taoist cultures. He is particularly worshipped during the Chinese New Year as he is believed to bless the coming year with prosperity.

Use this next day wisely and keep in mind that it isn't the last day of your pilgrimage, just another day on the henro trail of life. In commemoration of his trip to China, he enshrined his Shakujō at this temple. A Shakujō is a walking stick with large metal rings attached to the top of the handle in order to make rattling 毘沙門天 sounds. Likewise, it is now customary for all pilgrims to leave their walking stick here after they complete their pilgrimage. The temple was founded by Gyōgi Bosatsu in 738 (although Starr says that it was Shōtoku Taishi). Kōbō Daishi came her later and, in keeping a vow he made before leaving for China, performed a Goma ritual for the first seven nights in January and distributed amulets to the assembled people.

He is often shown holding the sun, moon, bow and arrows, a mirror, and has two hands in the Anjali mudra. The king of hunger, an ogre in perpetual anger, the king of quarrels. Of the three heads , the central head has a suffering expression, and the others appear angry.

Later, they built a statue of the Ushi-oni near the fountain in the temple compound. There is a particular figure of statue which is called Tobatsu Bishamonten. It wears armor knitted from chains (Kinsako (金鎖甲), and protective gear called Ebigote (海老籠手) over the arms, as well as a coronet on the head.

It should also be noted that these ‘virtues’ are not linked to morality, but are more closely tied to qualities one would want to possess. That is why a long life, wealth and popularity are included in this list. Of course, the Protestant ethic links success in life to one of God’s blessings, but still… And popularity? Just ask any Hollywood celeb where they rank on the morality scale. Confucian virtues are tied to morality, but they are Chinese and not necessarily Japanese – something you knew already. It is said that in the 12th century when the Taira were vying with the Minamoto for control of Japan both sides were appealing to Bishamon for support.

This temple is thought to be an especially effective place to pray for victory in battle. This is because at the time of the Mongol invasions, Emperor Kameyama came here and prayed for the safety of the nation. They belonged originally to the Brahmanic pantheon, and in Buddhism were partly assimilated by the dragon. At Sanjusangendo in Kyoto, two of the 28 followers of Kannon in the temple are Taishakuten , and his attendant, Kinnara, who is playing the drum . Not commonly represented in the Buddhist artwork of Japan.

In India Vaiśravaṇa was King of the North which also made him King of the Yakshas, the bringers of disease. His symbols were a banner, a mongoose and the color yellow. As best I can tell so far the mongoose never made it into the Japanese iconography of Bishamon. Below is a bronze sculpture of Jambhala (aka Vaiśravaṇa) said to date from the 17th century.