Four Heavenly Kings
Under the
Buddhist faith, the
Four Heavenly Kings (
Sanskrit:
Deva-raja;
Chinese:
Tianwang or
Tienwang;
Japaneseese:
Tennou) are four guardian gods who reside at the foot of Mt. Sumeru, each of whom is responsible for one cardinal direction. They are the protectors of the world and fighters of evil, each able to command a legion of supernatural creatures to protect the
Dharma. In Sanskrit they are
Dhritarashtra (guardian of the east),
Virupaksha (the west),
Vaishravana (the north) and
Virudhaka (the south).
\n\n| Direction | \nSeason | \nSanskrit Name | \nMeaning | \nChinese Name | \nJapanese Name | \n
\n\n| North | \nWinter | \nVaishravana | \n“He who hears everything” | \n多聞天 | \nTamonten / Bishamonten | \n
\n\n| South | \nSummer | \nVirudhaka | \n“He who enlarges” | \n增長天 | \nZouchoten | \n
\n\n| East | \nSpring | \nDhritarashtr | \n"He who maintains the state" | \n持國天 | \nJikokuten | \n
\n\n| West | \nAutumn | \nVirupaksha | \n"He who sees all" | \n廣目天 | \nKoumokuten | \n
\n
In Chinese they are known collectively as "Feng1 Tiao2 Yu3 Shun4", which translates into "Good Climate".
Their names also represent the weapons they use. (The
Chinese language uses tones, with a different tone having a different meaning.)
"Feng1" sounds like "edge", hence the corresponding weapon is a
sword.\n"Tiao2" sounds like "coil", hence the corresponding weapon is a ("coil" of)
dragon.\n"Yu3" means "rain", hence the corresponding weapon is an
umbrella. The umbrella can release rains of daggers.\n"Shun4" sounds like the name of a Chinese musical instrument, hence the corresponding weapon is exactly that. The musical instrument can create dis-harmonious
music and
sound waves to confuse enemies and give them
headaches.
\n'Shitenou' is also the proper term for the male servants of Queen Beryl in the series
Sailor Moon commonly refered to in fandom as 'Generals'.
