Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Group of figures

Jūniten (the Twelve Deities)

十二天じゅうにてん

A grouping of twelve kinds of deities: Nitten, Gatten, Bonten, Jiten and the Happōten (devas of the eight directions).

This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.

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 names and roles of the Jūniten

A grouping of twelve kinds of deities: Nitten, Gatten, Bonten, Jiten and the Happōten (devas of the eight directions). They are environmental deities that deify natural elements such as the eight directions, and are described as warding off calamities as people pray for harmony with nature.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院

Tracing their forms and traditions

The Happōten are Tamonten in the north, Ishanaten in the northeast, Taishakuten in the east, Katen in the southeast, Enmaten in the south, Rasetsuten in the southwest, Suiten in the west and Fūten in the northwest. The denbō kanjō (dharma transmission rite) is performed in front of folding screens painted with the Jūniten, and it is said that, although a standing figure is shown here, there are also forms riding a white water buffalo.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院

Deities guarding the directions, heaven and earth, and the sun and moon

The Jūniten are guardian figures connected with the eight directions (north, south, east and west and the four corners), above and below, the sun and the moon. Taishakuten, Katen, Enmaten, Rasetsuten, Suiten, Fūten, Tamonten and Ishanaten are joined by Bonten, Jiten, Nitten and Gatten. This grouping welcomes deities who protect nature and space into Buddhist ritual.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院

Prayers to protect the ritual space and remove calamities

Shōhōin connects the Jūniten with prayers for harmony with nature and for warding off calamities, and explains them as beings who protect the place where the denbō kanjō is held. The direction and objects of each figure belong to this system of protection. This is a grouping separate from the classifications of Shinto kami and from the twelve signs of Western astrology.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院

Related kami and buddhas

Sources (in Japanese)