juuroku zenshin　十六善神

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

Also read juuroku zenjin. Abbreviation of Shaka juuroku zenshin 釈迦十六善神 or Shaka sanzon juuroku zenshin 釈迦三尊十六善神. Sixteen Protectors of *Shaka 釈迦. A specific group of warlike figures *Yasha 夜叉, believed to be the protectors of the DAIHANNYAKYOU 大般若経 (Sk: Mahaprajnaparamitasutra, The Great Wisdom Sutra). In art works, Shaka, with the mudra of either *tenbourin-in 転法輪印 or *seppou-in 説法印, is attended by the two bodhisattvas *Fugen 普賢 and * Monju 文殊. The Sixteen Protectors appear in two groups of eight to either side and in front of the principal figures. They are believed to guard the sutra and those who uphold it. Paintings of the Sixteen Protectors were hung as central images for ceremonies called Daihannya-e 大般若会 at which there was a tendoku 転読 (flipping through pages, or opening scrolls, and reading the chapter headings at breakneck speed) of the text a certain number of times. The earliest record of commissioning a painting for a ceremony dates from 1114, while the earliest extant paintings date from the third quarter of the 12c. The Sixteen Protectors are: Daitorada 提頭羅宅 *Jikokuten 持国天; Birurokusha 毘盧勒叉 *Zouchouten 増長天; Saifukudokugai 摧伏毒害; Zouyaku 増益; Kanki 歓喜; Joissaishounan 除一切障難; Batsujozaiku 抜除罪垢; Nounin 能忍; Ueshiramanu 吠室羅摩拏 *Tamonten 多聞天; Birubakusha 毘盧博叉 *Koumokuten 広目天; Riissaifui 離一切怖畏; Kugoissai 救護一切; Shoufukushoma 摂伏諸魔; Noukushou 能救諸有; Shishiimou 師子威猛 and Yuumoushinchi 勇猛心地. Other protective figures such as Changti (Jp: Joutei 常啼), a nun Fayou (Jp: Houyuu 法優) *Basusen 婆薮仙 and Kudokuten 功徳天 (a form of *Kichijouten 吉祥天) may also be included in paintings of the juuoku zenshin. Anan 阿難 and Kashou 迦葉, disciples of the Buddha (see *Juudai deshi 十大弟子), may also be added. *Bonten 梵天 and *Taishakuten 帝釈天 are sometimes added to the group, making eighteen.

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