Eight Protectors of The Twelve Zodiac (), also known as The Eight Guardian Deities (), Hachi-tai Futsu (), are guardian deities of the twelve zodiac animals in Japanese esoteric Buddhism, based on the Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, Twelve Nidānas and Godai. Although they are called guardian deities, they are actually Yidams. According to Japanese Buddhist customs, each person born in the year of their birth is guarded by the Buddha or Bodhisattva corresponding to their zodiac sign. For example, the guardian deity of those born in the Year of the Rabbit is Manjushri. Each guardian deity has a corresponding seed syllables, direction, and earthly branch.
The Eight Guardian Deities are not mentioned in any traditional Buddhist scriptures. Besides Japan, they are also widely circulated in China Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Their images or seed syllables are often made into amulets, jewelry, thangkas, Thai amulets, and creative industries. The Eight Guardian Deities are also enshrined in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, Singapore.
List
Images Seed syllables Yidams Corresponding Chinese zodiac signs Direction / Thousand-armed Avalokiteśvara Rat North / Ākāśagarbha Ox Northeast Tiger / Mañjuśrī Rabbit East / Samantabhadra Dragon Southeast Snake / Mahāsthāmaprāpta Horse South / Vairocana Goat Southwest Monkey / Acalanātha Rooster West / Amitābha Dog Northwest Pig
Gallery
See also Twelve Heavenly Generals Chinese zodiac Colors of the day in Thailand Twelve Flower Fairies
References