Twelve Heavenly Generals
Yaksha of Bhaisajyaguru
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In East Asian Buddhism, the Twelve Heavenly Generals or Twelve Divine Generals are the protective deities, or yaksha, of Bhaisajyaguru, the buddha of healing. They are introduced in the Medicine Buddha Sutra or Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra.[1] They are collectively named as follows:
- simplified Chinese: 十二神将; traditional Chinese: 十二神將; pinyin: Shí'èr Shén Jiāng
- Japanese: Jūni Shinshō (十二神将) or Jūni Shinnō (十二神王) or Jūni Yakusha Taishō (十二薬叉大将)[2]
Names of generals
The precise names of the generals seem to vary depending on tradition. Those listed below are from an available Sanskrit transcription of the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaiḍūryaprabhārāja Sūtra:[3]
| Sanskrit | Hanzi | Pinyin | Rōmaji | Vietnamese | Tagalog | Tibetan (Wly.) | Zodiac (Chinese) | Zodiac (Japanese) [4] | Honji |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiṃbhīra | 宮毘羅 | Guānpíluò Jīnpíluò | Kubira Kompira (Shinto) | Cung Tỳ La | Kimbhila | Ji 'jigs | Boar | Rat | Maitreya |
| Vajra | 伐折羅 | Fázhéluò | Basara, Bazara | Phạt Chiết La | Vajla | Rdo rje | Dog | Ox | Mahāsthāmaprāpta |
| Mekhila | 迷企羅 | Míqǐluò | Mekira | Mê Súy La | Mekhila | Rgyan 'dzin | Rooster | Tiger | Amitābha |
| Antila | 安底羅 | Āndǐluò | Anchira, Anteira | An Để La | Antila | Gza' 'dzin | Monkey | Rabbit | Avalokiteśvara |
| Anila | 頞儞羅 | Ènǐluò | Anira | Át Nể La | Anila | Rlung 'dzin | Sheep | Dragon | Mārīcī |
| Saṇṭhila | 珊底羅 | Shāndìluò | Sanchira, Santeira | San Để La | Santhila | Gnas bcas | Horse | Snake | Ākāśagarbha |
| Indala | 因達羅 | Yīndàluò | Indara | Nhân Đạt La | Indala | Dbang 'dzin | Snake | Horse | Kṣitigarbha |
| Pāyila | 波夷羅 | Bōyìluò | Haira | Bà Di La | Payila | Gtun 'dzin | Dragon | Sheep | Mañjuśrī |
| Mahāla | 摩虎羅 | Mòhǔluò | Makora | Ma Hổ La | Mahala | Sgra 'dzin | Rabbit | Monkey | Yamantaka[5] |
| Cidāla | 真達羅 | Zhēndàluò | Shindara | Chân Đạt La | Sidala | Bsam 'dzin | Tiger | Rooster | Samantabhadra |
| Caundhula | 招杜羅 | Zhāodùluò | Shōtora | Chiêu Đổ La | Saundhula | 'dzin | Ox | Dog | Vajrapāṇi |
| Vikala | 毘羯羅 | Píjiéluò | Bikara Bigyara | Tỳ Yết La | Bikala | Rdzogs byed | Mouse | Boar | Śākyamuni |
Descriptions of each Heavenly General
Zhendaluo (真達羅)
 |
Short description about Zhendaluo |
Zhaoduluo (招杜羅)
 |
Short description about Zhaoduluo |
_-_Shinshin_(Dragon_General),_Kamakura_period,_13th_century,_wood_with_polychromy,_cut_gold_leaf,_and_inlaid_crystal_eyes_-_Tokyo_National_Museum_-_DSC05366.JPG)
_-_Shishin_(Snake_General),_Kamakura_period,_13th_century,_wood_with_polychromy,_cut_gold_leaf,_and_inlaid_crystal_eyes_-_Tokyo_National_Museum_-_DSC05362.JPG)
While the Honji and zodiac correspondences listed above are the standard in Japanese sources, there is variation among texts and regional traditions.[6]