What the heck is a "Shitennou?"
The word Shitennou literally translates to:
shi = four
ten = heaven, sky
nou = king
So basically, the Shitennou are the four heavenly kings. You can read a more in-depth
explanation of this name in A Rose by Any Other Name. In Buddhist mythology, these warriors were said to protect the
four cardinal points. They are often depicted as fearsome beasts, trampling enemies of
Buddhism. The oldest known statues of the Shitennou, dating around AD 650, are held in the
Golden Hall of Horyu-ji. These older statues depict them as calmer and less wild, posing with
grave faces while standing on top of obedient demons (known as Tentoki).
The Shitennou were Kenzokushin (lesser gods who serve a greater god) of Taisyakuten. They are said to live on each of the four sides halfway down Mt. Shumisen, the mountain at the center of the world. Surrounding this mountain are eight mountain ranges, and in the ocean between the seventh and eighth ranges are four continents, each of which is protected by a specific Shitennou.
Taisyakuten
[Sakradevanam Indora in Sanskrit] "God of the center", the one who the Shitennou protect. The mightiest of gods (save perhaps
Bonten), he could be
compared to the Greek god Zeus. Taisyakuten was the god of storms, of war, of thunder, and
of wealth. He lived at the top of Mt. Shumisen. He was often
depicted riding an elephant. Taisyaku was also said to protect others from evil, and had
the ability to revive people who have been slain in battle. As a member of the 12 Devas
(Juniten), he is the god of the East.
Tamonten
[Vaisravana in Sanskrit] Pictured at left. Also known as Bishamonten. Tamon is the most
powerful of the four, partly
because in addition to being a Shitennou, he is one of the 12 Devas (Juniten), and one of the
Seven Fortune Gods. The guardian of the north, represented with a
trident in his right hand
and a pagoda in his left. He was known as a god of
wealth and good luck. Tamon is said to be all-knowing and hears everything in the kingdom.
Tamon means "Listens to Many Teachings", because he protects the places where Buddha teaches,
thus he hears all of Buddha's teachings. The color associated with him is blue. As Bishamon,
he is also said to have a sister or wife by the name of Kichijouten.
Jikokuten
[Dhrtarashtra] The guardian of the east, represented with the
Shichiseiken, or the Seven Star Sword, in his right hand and a trident in
his left. Jikoku protects and maintains the world. The color associated with him is green.
Zochoten
[Virudhaka] The guardian of the south, represented with a treasure
sword and a trident. Zocho relieves people of their suffering. The color associated with
him is white.
Komokuten
[Virupaksha] The guardian of the west, represented with a brush in his
right hand and a scroll in his left. He discerns and punishes evil and encourages enlightenment.
The color associated with him is red.
One can see the parallels between Buddhism's Shitennou and Naoko Takeuchi's Shitennou. Both consist of four warriors who are guardians of a single person. Both have specific continents that they each protect (never mind the fact that Australia, Africa, Antarctica, South America are left out).
Another aspect of Buddhist mythology that is of interest is the Ssu Ling (four guardians of the compass). These are warrior animals that, like the Shitennou, each protect a direction of the compass. While some aspects, such as color, differ from those of the Shitennou, it is nevertheless interesting to compare these celestial emblems to their Shitennou counterparts.
| Direction | Color/Animal | Season | Elements | Planet | Organs |
| East | Blue Dragon | Spring | Wood | Jupiter | Liver and gall bladder |
| South | Red Bird (or Phoenix) | Summer | Fire, sun | Mars | Large intestines, heart |
| West | White Tiger (or Ki Rin) | Autumn | Wind, metal | Venus | Lungs, small intestine |
| North | Black Tortoise | Winter | Cold, water | Mercury | Kidneys, bladder |
Now comes the question: who is who? If we focus on any single attribute, none of the Shitennou of legend match up with Takeuchi's counterparts. For example, there is no denying that Kunzite is the leader, so he by default becomes Tamon's equivalent, but on the other hand, blue is more of Jadeite's color. However, if we look at it more broadly, keeping in mind that not every detail will fit, we can see that certain similarities stand out. If you focus on the names, Jikoku and Zocho sound slightly like Jadeite and Zoisite if you twist them around enough (not really, but they at least start out the same, right?). Jikoku also guards the East, and Jadeite is the commander of the Far Eastern division. Zocho relieves people of their suffering, and Zoisite is probably the most openly caring member of the group. This leaves Komoku and Nephrite. While Neph doesn't sound quite like the "enlightened" type, red is his color, and he is the soldier of the North American division, i.e. the West. White jade was also used in worship of the White Tiger, and if you'll remember our little minerology lesson, Nephrite is a type of jade. However, these are mere speculations on my part.
For more information about the mythology behind the Shitennou, see:
Japanese Buddhist Corner
FY Mythology - Good info on the Ssu Ling
Diagram of
Mt. Shumisen - Japanese language only
Four Heavenly Kings
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