Four Guardian Gods
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In Japanese Buddhism, the Four Guardian Gods (Jp. 四天王 shitennō), also known as the Four Kings of Heaven, are deities who protect the Dharma. They are known as the Lokapalas (Sanskrit "world-protectors"), a set of four Hindu (Vedic) deities adopted by Buddhism:
- Jikokuten (持國天, also 治國天), protector of the east
- Zojoten (増長天), protector of the south
- Komokuten (廣目天), protector of the west
- Tamonten (多聞天, also known as Bishamon or 毘沙門, protector of the north and ruler of the yakshas)
All four serve Taishakuten (帝釈天), the deity of the center and report to him on the moral condition of the world.Template:Myth-stub