Twelve Heavenly Generals

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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:

Names of generals

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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]

SanskritHanziPinyinRōmajiVietnameseTagalogTibetan (Wly.)Zodiac (Chinese)Zodiac (Japanese) [4]Honji
Kiṃbhīra宮毘羅Guānpíluò
Jīnpíluò
Kubira
Kompira (Shinto)
Cung Tỳ LaKimbhilaJi 'jigsBoarRatMaitreya
Vajra伐折羅FázhéluòBasara, BazaraPhạt Chiết LaVajlaRdo rjeDogOxMahāsthāmaprāpta
Mekhila迷企羅MíqǐluòMekiraMê Súy LaMekhilaRgyan 'dzinRoosterTigerAmitābha
Antila安底羅ĀndǐluòAnchira, AnteiraAn Để LaAntilaGza' 'dzinMonkeyRabbitAvalokiteśvara
Anila頞儞羅ÈnǐluòAniraÁt Nể LaAnilaRlung 'dzinSheepDragonMārīcī
Saṇṭhila珊底羅ShāndìluòSanchira, SanteiraSan Để LaSanthilaGnas bcasHorseSnakeĀkāśagarbha
Indala因達羅YīndàluòIndaraNhân Đạt LaIndalaDbang 'dzinSnakeHorseKṣitigarbha
Pāyila波夷羅BōyìluòHairaBà Di LaPayilaGtun 'dzinDragonSheepMañjuśrī
Mahāla摩虎羅MòhǔluòMakoraMa Hổ LaMahalaSgra 'dzinRabbitMonkeyYamantaka[5]
Cidāla真達羅ZhēndàluòShindaraChân Đạt LaSidalaBsam 'dzinTigerRoosterSamantabhadra
Caundhula招杜羅ZhāodùluòShōtoraChiêu Đổ LaSaundhula'dzinOxDogVajrapāṇi
Vikala毘羯羅PíjiéluòBikara
Bigyara
Tỳ Yết LaBikalaRdzogs byedMouseBoarŚākyamuni

Descriptions of each Heavenly General

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Zhendaluo (真達羅)

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Zhendaluo (真達羅) around 3m tall statue in Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou China
Short description about Zhendaluo

Zhaoduluo (招杜羅)

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Zhaoduoluo (招杜羅) around 3m tall statue in Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou China
Short description about Zhaoduluo
One of the Twelve Heavenly Generals at the Tokyo National Museum
Another one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals

While the Honji and zodiac correspondences listed above are the standard in Japanese sources, there is variation among texts and regional traditions.[6]

References

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  1. Mary Neighbour Parent (2001). "JAANUS - Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System". Japanese Architectural and Art Historical Terminology (online ed.). Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  2. Mark Schumacher. "12 Divine Generals of Yakushi Buddha". A to Z Photo Dictionary: Japanese Buddhist Statuary. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  3. "Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharājasūtram". Digital Sanskrit Buddhist Canon. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  4. "Twelve Heavenly Generals of Yakushi Buddha (source: Ancient Buddhism in Japan, Vol. II (Leiden: 1935, pp. 551-553))". BUDDHISM & SHINTŌ IN JAPAN. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  5. 改訂新版,世界大百科事典内言及, 精選版 日本国語大辞典,デジタル大辞泉,改訂新版 世界大百科事典,日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),百科事典マイペディア,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典,山川 日本史小辞典. "十二神将(じゅうにじんしょう)とは? 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "薬師十二神将". Flying Deity Tobifudo. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
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