page_title: Tutelary deity
section_title: Asia
hierarchical_section_title: Tutelary deity / Asia
caption_attribution_description: English: Stone doors of a tomb of the period of the Northern Dynasties to Tʻang Dynasty, excavated in Ching-pien County of the city of Yü-lin, Shensi Province. It showing two Caucasoid figures with tridents as the guardian deities of the tomb. 中文（繁體）‎: 陝西靖邊出土彩繪貼金浮雕石墓門：陝西省靖邊縣文物管理所收藏的北朝至唐朝時期的石墓門的兩扇門扉正面各飾有一彩繪貼金浮雕守護神，相向而立，均為深目高鼻的高加索人形像，充滿濃郁的波斯-西域風格。他們蓄着八字鬍，頭帶飾有新月的束帶狀冠，腦後兩側有飛揚的帛帶，身穿翻領長袍，足蹬長筒靴，手持三叉戟，腰佩環首刀，站立在岩石之上。
context_page_description: A tutelary is a deity or spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of "tutelary" expresses the concept of safety and thus of guardianship.
  In late Greek and Roman religion, one type of tutelary deity, the genius, functions as the personal deity or daimon of an individual from birth to death. Another form of personal tutelary spirit is the familiar spirit of European folklore.
context_section_description: Chinese folk religion, both past and present, includes a myriad of tutelary deities. Exceptional individuals may become deified after death. Guan Yu is a well-known tutelary. See City God (East Asia) and Tudigong.
  In Hinduism, tutelary deities are known as ishta-devata and Kuldevi or Kuldevta. Gramadevata are guardian deities of villages. Devas can also be seen as tutelary. Shiva is patron of yogis and renunciants. City goddesses include:
  Mumbadevi (Mumbai)
  Sachchika (Osian)
  Kuladevis include:
  Ambika (Porwad)
  Mahalakshmi
  In Korean shamanism, jangseung and sotdae were placed at the edge of villages to frighten off demons. They were also worshiped as deities.
  In Philippine animism, Diwata or Lambana are deities or spirits that inhabit sacred places like mountains and mounds and serve as guardians.
  * Maria Makiling is the deity who guards Mt. Makiling.
  * Maria Cacao and Maria Sinukuan.
  In Shinto, the spirits, or kami, which give life to human bodies come from nature and return to it after death. Ancestors are therefore themselves tutelaries to be worshiped.
  Thai provincial capitals have tutelary city pillars and palladiums. The guardian spirit of a house is known as Chao Thi (เจ้าที่) or Phra Phum (พระภูมิ). Almost every Buddhist household in Thailand has a miniature shrine housing this tutelary deity, known as a spirit house.
  Tibetan Buddhism has Yidam as a tutelary deity. Dakini is the patron of those who seek knowledge.
caption: Stone doors of a tomb of the period of the Northern Dynasties to Tʻang Dynasty, excavated in Ching-pien County of the city of Yü-lin, Shensi Province. It shows two figures with tridents as the guardian deities of the tomb.
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