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Words-and-Pictures: The Shitenno
(as seen on
November 12th, 2001, on the Shikoku
stage of the
Aki Meguri)
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| Note: The
Shitenno are
located at Yashimaji, Temple #84 of Shikoku's famous 88 Temple Pilgrimage.
You can read more about my visit there in my Logbook, or go to the Shikoku
homepage to read about the entire journey. |
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| At Yashimaji, Temple Number 84 of the Shikoku 88,
there is a second gate between the Niomon (Two Kings Gate) and
the hondo (main hall). This is a four Kings gate, or more
accurately, a four generals gate. They are the guardians of the
four directions. |
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The gate has four "bays," two front
and two back (as do most Two Kings gates). Under each
picture below, I tell which bay the figure was found in;
"left" and "right" mean when facing the front,
so the characters were shot counterclockwise beginning in the
right rear of the gate.
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Name: Tamonten
Position: Back right
Direction: North
Color: Blue
Task: Listens to prayers; protects holy places
Symbol: Treasure (pagoda) and weapon (spear or club) |
Name: Komokuten
Position: Back left
Direction: West
Color: Red
Task: Sees through evil
Symbol: Writing brush and scroll |
Name: Zochoten
Position: Front left
Direction: South
Color: White
Task: Relieves people of suffering
Symbol: Spear |
Name: Jikokuten
Position: Front right
Direction: East
Color: Green
Task: Maintains the world
Symbol: Sword |
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HISTORY
