Changes

*''Japanese'': 四天王 ''(shitennou)''

*''Japanese'': 四天王 ''(shitennou)''

The ''Shitennô'', lit. "Four Heaven Kings," are a group of Buddhist figures who serve as symbolic guardians of the four directions. They originated as folk religion figures in Central Asia, before being incorporated into the Chinese Buddhist pantheon, and as such take the form of armored horse-riding warriors.

The ''Shitennô'', lit. "Four Heaven Kings," are a group of Buddhist figures who serve as symbolic guardians of the four directions. They originated as folk religion figures in Central Asia, before being incorporated into the Chinese Buddhist pantheon, and as such take the form of armored horse-riding warriors. The Four Heaven Kings were particularly revered by the imperial court in the earliest centuries of Japanese Buddhism, as gurdians of the State.<ref>Gallery labels, "Izumo and Yamato," special exhibition, Tokyo National Museum, Feb 2020.</ref>

The four are:

The four are:

==References==

==References==

*Gallery labels at Freer Gallery of Art, F1976.12,19,20,28.

*Gallery labels at Freer Gallery of Art, F1976.12,19,20,28.

[[Category:Terminology]]

[[Category:Terminology]]

[[Category:Buddhism]]

[[Category:Buddhism]]