In East Asian Buddhism, the Twelve Heavenly Generals or Twelve Divine Generals are the protective deities, or yaksha, of Bhaisajyaguru, the buddha of healing. They are introduced in the Medicine Buddha Sutra or Bhaiṣajyaguruvaidūryaprabharāja Sūtra. They are collectively named as follows:
Japanese: or or
Names of generals The precise names of the generals seem to vary depending on tradition. Those listed below are from an available Sanskrit transcription of the Bhaiṣajyaguruvaiḍūryaprabhārāja Sūtra:
Sanskrit Hanzi Pinyin Rōmaji Vietnamese Tagalog Tibetan (Wly.) Zodiac (Chinese) Zodiac (Japanese) Honji 宮毘羅 GuānpíluòJīnpíluò KubiraKompira (Shinto) Cung Tỳ La Kimbhila Ji 'jigs Boar Rat Maitreya 伐折羅 Fázhéluò Basara, Bazara Phạt Chiết La Vajla Rdo rje Dog Ox Mahāsthāmaprāpta 迷企羅 Míqǐluò Mekira Mê Súy La Mekhila Rgyan 'dzin Rooster Tiger Amitābha 安底羅 Āndǐluò Anchira, Anteira An Để La Antila Gza' 'dzin Monkey Rabbit Avalokiteśvara 頞儞羅 Ènǐluò Anira Át Nể La Anila Rlung 'dzin Sheep Dragon Mārīcī 珊底羅 Shāndìluò Sanchira, Santeira San Để La Santhila Gnas bcas Horse Snake Ākāśagarbha 因達羅 Yīndàluò Indara Nhân Đạt La Indala Dbang 'dzin Snake Horse Kṣitigarbha 波夷羅 Bōyìluò Haira Bà Di La Payila Gtun 'dzin Dragon Sheep Mañjuśrī 摩虎羅 Mòhǔluò Makora Ma Hổ La Mahala Sgra 'dzin Rabbit Monkey Yamantaka 真達羅 Zhēndàluò Shindara Chân Đạt La Sidala Bsam 'dzin Tiger Rooster Samantabhadra 招杜羅 Zhāodùluò Shōtora Chiêu Đổ La Saundhula 'dzin Ox Dog Vajrapāṇi 毘羯羅 Píjiéluò BikaraBigyara Tỳ Yết La Bikala Rdzogs byed Mouse Boar Śākyamuni
Descriptions of each Heavenly General
Zhendaluo (真達羅) Short description about Zhendaluo
Zhaoduluo (招杜羅) +Short description about Zhaoduluo
While the Honji and zodiac correspondences listed above are the standard in Japanese sources, there is variation among texts and regional traditions.
References
External links Album of 12 Heavenly Generals at Ngong Ping