nijuuhachi bushuu　二十八部衆

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

The 28 attendants of *Senju Kannon 千手観音. They protect those who place their faith in Senju Kannon. They are described in texts about the deity translated into Chinese in the Tang dynasty (7-9c). The list of the Twenty-eight is not fixed, and in art other deities, such as *Fuujin Raijin 風神雷神 (the Gods of Wind and Thunder) for example, are often added. The list is made up of protective deities such as the *shite nnou 四天王, *Bonten 梵天 and *Taishakuten 帝釈天, protectors of Six Realms rokudou 六道, dragon gods ryuuou 竜王, and others. The 28 attendants appear in paintings of Senju Kannon dating from the mid Tang and early Sung dynasty in Dunhuang (Jp: Tonkou 敦煌). They were frequently shown as attendants of Senju Kannon in both sculpture and painting, in Japan. The set of twenty-eight attendants made in 1164 for Sanjuusangendou 三十三間堂 (also known as Rengeouin 蓮華王院) in Kyoto are the most important example in Japan. The 28 attendants at Sanjuusangendou : Misshaku kongou rikishi 密迹金剛力士, Makei shuraou 摩醯首羅王, Naraen kengoou 那羅延堅固王, Konpiraou 金毘羅王, Manzenshaou 満善車王, Mawarajo 摩和羅女, Hippakaraou 畢婆迦羅王, Gobujou goten 五部浄居天, Taishakuten, Daiben kudokuten 大弁功徳天, Touhouten 東方天, Jinmoten 神母天, Birurokushaten 毘楼勒叉天, Biruhakushaten 毘楼博叉天, *Bishamonten 毘沙門天, Konjiki kujakuou 金色孔雀王, *Basusen 婆薮仙 (Basu sennin 婆薮仙人), Sanshi taishou 散脂大将, Nanda ryuuou 難陀竜王, Sakatsura ryuuou 沙羯羅竜王, Ashuraou 阿修羅王 (*Ashura 阿修羅), Kendatsubaou 乾闥婆王 (*Kendatsuba 乾闥婆), Karuraou 迦楼羅王 (*Karura 迦楼羅) , Kinnaraou 緊那羅王, Magorakaou 摩ご羅伽王, Daibonten 大梵天, Kindaiten 金大王, Mansen-ou 満仙王.

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