Bishamonten: One of the Japanese 7 lucky gods; protector and dispenser of treasure.
Boten: Heaven Deva; Guards the upwards direction. Deity who created the universe with four arms pointing in each of the four directions.
Bosatsu: manifestation of the buddha in past, present or future.
Dragon: Corresponds to the season spring, the color blue, the element water, and the virtue propriety
Eight Zodiac Protectors:
- Amida Nyorai: Northwest; Year of the Dog; Year of the Pig/Boar
- Fudo Myo: West; Year of the Rooster/Chicken
- Dainichi Nyorai: Southwest; Year of the Monkey; Year of the Ram/Sheep
- Seishi Bosatsu: South; Year of the Horse
- Fugen Bosatsu: Southeast; Year of the Snake; Year of the Dragon
- Monju Bosatsu: East; Year of the Rabbit
- Kokuzo Bosatsu: Northeast; Year of the Ox; Year of the Tiger
- Senjyu Kannon: North; Year of the Rat
Emma: Hell Deva; God of the underworld. Judge of the dead
Five Elements:
Water = Suirin
Earth = Chirin
Wind = Fuurin
Fire = Karin
Gem-shaped ring of space = Kuurin
Fugen: God of practice; Protector of those who teach Buddhism.
Futen: Wind Deva
Gakko: Bosatsu of moonlight
Godai Nyorai (Five wisdom gods): 5 emanations of the absolute buddha. They embody the five fundamental wisdoms
Dainichi Nyorai:
Centre/Cosmic; White: body, earth, eye consciousness (Converts ignorance and bewilderment into the wisdom of primordial awareness (wisdom of universal lawfulness))
Fukujoju Nyorai:
North, Green (Converts jealousy and envy into all-accomplishing wisdom (or the wisdom that is needed to complete karma))
Hosho Nyorai:
South, Yellow (Converts pride, greed and envy into the wisdom of composure/even-tempered or the wisdom of essential similarity))
Ashuku Nyorai:
East, Blue (Converts anger and aggression into mirror like wisdom)
Amida:
West, Red (Converts desire, lust and passion into the wisdom of discriminating awareness or the wisdom of distinction)
Hachi-Bushu: 8 protectors of Buddhism
Ten/Deva
Celestial beings. They live in on the 6th level of existence
Ryuu/Naga
Serpent like creatures, including dragons. They are the attendants of Koumokuten
Yasha/Yaksa
Warriors of fierce stance, Nature spirits. They protect Yakushi Nyorai and are commanded by Tamonten
Kendatsuba/Gandharva
Gods of music, medicine and children. They attend and are commanded by Jikokuten
Ashura/Asura
3 heads and 6 arms. They reside on the 4th level of existence
Kurura/Garuda
Bird men. They are the enemies of the ryuu
Kinnara/Kimnara
Celestial musicians and dancers. They have human forms but a horses head. They are commanded by tamonten
Magoraka/Mahoraga
Serpentine musicians
Hannya: Goddess. She was believed to be delivered by the Lord Buddha to give guardianship over the Nagas.
Hozo: After making 48 vows and meditating for 5 eons he became Amida Nyorai
Ida-Ten: God of law and monasteries
Ishanaten: Said to live in the highest level (level of desire) of the 6th realm.
Jiten: Earth Deva; God of the earth
Jizo: Salvation from suffering. Guardian of deceased children, expectant mothers, firemen, travellers and pilgrims.
Juichimen: God of mercy
Kannon: God/Goddess of compassion. 33 mainfestations
Katen: Fire Deva; Carries messages to the gods through flames and the smoke from the fire.
Kishimo-Jin: Goddess of compassion. Protectress of children
Kokuzo: Deity of memory and wisdom. Protector of Craftspeople and Artisans
Mara: Devil King of the sixth heaven. Lord of Darkness, God of temptation and death
Miroku: Also known as Jishi Bosatsu. Worshipped as the buddha of the future; God of Compassion
Monju: Bosatsu of wisdom and beautiful splendour. Dispels ignorance with sword; God of education. Governs intelligence
Myo-o: Kings of Wisdom
- Fudo: Positioned in the Centre; He frightens people into accepting the teachings of Dainichi and carries the Devil Subduing sword in his right hand. He represents wisdom cutting through ignorance.
- Gozanze: Positioned in the East; He has three threatening faces and eight arms. He is the enemy of foolishness and anger. He carries an arrow of mercy which he uses to shoot at those who stray from the path of enlightenment.
- Gundari: Positioned in the South; He has three faces and eight arms (the majority of these hold weapons). He is the enemy of devils.
- Daitoku: Positioned in the West. He has six faces, legs and arms which hold a variety of weapons. He has the power to suppress evil and create goodness.
- Kongou-Yasha: Positioned in the North: He has three angry faces and four arms. He is the destroyer of foolish human desires and symbolises strength.
- Aizen: God of love; King of sexual passion. He converts earthly desires into spiritual awakening; Saves people from the pain that comes with love. He has a red body which symbolises the power to purify sexual desire. He carries a bow and arrow.
- Kujaku Kujyaku: Rain God or Peacock Wisdom King. He wards off evil from poisoning or calamity.
- Bato: One of the incarnations of Bato Kannon
Namu Shakamuni Butsu: Eternal Shakyamuni buddha (original buddha), unborn and undying. He represents the unity of all three bodies.
Dharma-body (trikaya);
Bliss-body (Sambhogakaya) and
Manifested-body (Nirmanakaya)
Nikko: Bosatsu of sunshine and good health
Phoenix: Corresponds to summer, red, fire, and knowledge
Rakshasa: Demons who torture and feed upon the flesh of the dead (only those who have become evil while living)
Sanzebutsu: Buddhas of the Three Worlds
Amida = Past;
Shaka = Present;Miroku = Future
Seishi: Bosatsu of Strength and Vigor. One who attained wisdom and compassion