Deva (ten) or guardian deity
Kyokushi
曲歯
Kyokushi is one of the Ten Rasetsunyo who appear in chapter 26, the Darani chapter, of the Myōhō Renge Kyō (Lotus Sutra), and is named third in the sutra text. The Ten Rasetsunyo, together with Kishimo, her children and attendants, vow to protect those who recite and hold to the Lotus Sutra, and pronounce darani before the Buddha.
The vow of the Ten Rasetsu-nyo in the sutra and the later explanations of each figure's form and original Buddhist form (honjibutsu) are introduced with their sources kept separate.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
The name and role of Kyokushi
Listed as one of the Ten Rasetsu. It is explained that she was originally a demon-deity with curved fangs, and she is introduced as having an original buddha (honjibutsu).
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
Tracing the figure and traditions
Her held object is said to be a kezara, a dish heaped with flowers.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院
The Ten Rasetsunyo, who appear in chapter 26, the Darani chapter
Kyokushi is one of the Ten Rasetsunyo who appear in chapter 26, the Darani chapter, of the Myōhō Renge Kyō (Lotus Sutra), and is named third in the sutra text. The Ten Rasetsunyo, together with Kishimo, her children and attendants, vow to protect those who recite and hold to the Lotus Sutra, and pronounce darani before the Buddha.
Source: 日蓮宗 長崎教化センター
The story of a vow, from demon-deities to benevolent deities
Shōhōin explains that the rasetsunyo, having heard the preaching of the Lotus Sutra, vowed to the Buddha Shaka to protect believers. This vow is a tradition shared by all ten. Differences in their individual names and held objects are not taken to mean that each will surely grant a different wish; they are introduced in the context of protecting the Lotus Sutra.
Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院
The vow to protect those who hold to the Lotus Sutra
In the Darani chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the Ten Rasetsunyo, together with Kishimojin and others, vow to protect those who hold to the teaching of the Lotus Sutra. The Nichiren school explains protection from the various hindrances that obstruct believers as the heart of this chapter. This site reads it as a vow shared by all ten and does not add a separate effect for each deity.
Source: 日蓮宗
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：曲歯」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 飛不動尊 正宝院「仏様の世界：十羅刹」（2026-10-14 確認）
- 日蓮宗 長崎教化センター「法華経ウェブ版：妙法蓮華経 陀羅尼品第二十六（真読）」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 日蓮宗「陀羅尼品｜ざっくり納得 法華経のすべて」（2026-10-17 確認）