Heavenly Kings

# Heavenly Kings versus Demon Generals by XMezumiiru

Most of the time, Shuten, Anubisu, Rajura, and Naaza are referred to as Masho 魔将 or Demon Generals. They introduce themselves as Masho and Arago calls them Masho (most of the time). However, in episode two, Arago does call them the Shitennō 四天王, or Heavenly Kings.

The concept art and design of the Masho included them being Heavenly Protectors/Kings of the Youjakai. Both the YST Encyclopedia and 30th Anniversary Book that contain original notes and design features often call them Tennō over Masho.

Vajrayana Buddhism plays a key role in YST. This is the esoteric Buddhism that was introduced into Japan between 700 and 1300 CE. Shingon 真言 Buddhism and Tendai 天台 Buddhism (both Vajrayana sects) played significant political roles between 1300 and 1600 CE, when Zen Buddhism rose to fashion after the Sengoku period. (Shingon was founded by Kōbō Daishi 弘法大師, who in myth is said to have never died and waits for evil to return. It is suspected Kaos is a representation of Kōbō Daishi).

One of the principle meditation and explanatory devices of Shingon and Tendai is the Ryōkai Mandala or Two World Mandala: Taizōkai 胎蔵界曼荼羅 or Womb World Mandala and Kongōkai 金剛界曼荼羅 or Diamond World Mandala. (Mandala are pictorial representations of ideas and concepts, usually as teaching tools.)

The Taizōkai Mandala is associated with the ultimate principle (also called reason, logic, truth), ri 理, and focuses on the principle and cause of all manifestations of thought and life. It is the principle 理 and the cause 因. It can be associated with the first two Noble Truths. The Taizōkai Mandala is physically based, meaning suffering, death, and rebirth are within its realm of influence. It is watched over by the four directions, which in Japanese tradition are also the four seasons. The Shitennō protect the central Buddha and all that dwell in the mandala.

The Kongōkai Mandala aligns with mind or intelligence, chi 智 (Touma’s virtue), and reason 果. It represents the cosmic or transcendental Buddha Dainichi Nyorai 大日如来 and complete wisdom. The center panel displays a mandala depicting Dainichi Nyorai surrounded by four other Buddhas known as the Gochi (or Godai) Nyorai 五大如来. In the Kongōkai Mandala, the five elements are considered inanimate. Only by adding the sixth element - mind, perception, or spiritual consciousness - do the five become animate. The elements are Earth, Fire, Wind/Air, Water, and Void, followed by virtue or consciousness. It can be associated with the last two Noble Truths.

The two realms are reflections of each other or considered two sides of the same thing. Some compare the two mandala to water and wave, which are the same, but vastly different.

The Shitennō are Buddhist protectors of the four directions, guardians of the gates of the directions, and protectors of Dainichi Nyorai. They ward off evil, guard the nation, and protect the world from malicious spirits – they are shown literally standing on evil spirits, crushing them. They are nearly always dressed in yoroi 鎧, look ferocious (funnusō 忿怒相), and carry weapons or objects (jimotsu 持物) said to eliminate evil influences and suppress the enemies of Buddhism. Each represents a direction, season, color, virtue, and element (Japan only, some variation exists in India and China):

Jikokuten 持國天  - Guardian of the Nation - East, Spring, Water, Strength, Blue

Zōchōten 增長天 - Lord who Expands, Lord who Enlarges - South, Summer, Fire, Prosperity, Red

Kōmokuten 廣目天 - Lord of Limitless Vision - West, Fall, Air, Awareness, White

* Kōmokuten is often accompanied by the Naga and snakes
* Is considered the healer

Tamonten 多聞天 - King of the North, Lord Who Hears All, The Black Warrior - North, Winter, Earth, Wealth, Black

* The most popular and prolific Shitennō
* Commands all other guardian Buddhas and spirits
* Supposedly glows as bright as 1,000 suns
* Is the protector of the righteous and patron of warriors
* Eventually merged into Bishamonten毘沙門天, one of the seven lucky gods

They all have weapons, animals, halos, and dress attributed to them, however, it varies considerably throughout Japan’s history and locality, thus not included here. The common thread of their imagery is fierceness and power, which could explain the differences between the two sets of armor and why they look fiercer and more dangerous.

As the Masho were meant to be the Shitennō by the creators of YST, as the correspondence written about them and the show show, and with how the general and propensities for their characterizations match up.

* Shuten – Jikokuten
* Rajura – Zōchōten
* Naaza – Kōmokuten
* Anubisu – Tamonten

The creators described searching out more modern explanations of the armor and design concepts – Holy Naga for Naaza, Egyptian Guide of the Dead Anubisu, and either an Amazon scorpion deity or djinn for Rajura. Starting from the point of the Shitennō, these connections are easy to make.

Arago corrupted the Youjakai when he conquered it, robbing it and the Masho of their power and potentially their sanity. The Youjakai being a mirror of the mortal world would imply that it is a place between life and death (similar to purgatory), where the spirit passes through on its way to rebirth. The Shitennō guard the four gates between the worlds, and there are four gates to the Youjakai in the show.

By taking the Shitennō and turning them into his Masho, Arago stopped them from carrying out their purpose, allowing spirits to travel in and out of the gates at whim. This would throw off the balance of both worlds and cause immeasurable suffering. Since Arago thrived on suffering, this makes sense.

But, it also deprived the Masho of their purpose and power, as abdicating control in Buddhist philosophy takes one lower on the spiritual path, increasing negative karma. Hence, an explanation for why we see the Masho losing power as the series progresses.

The foot soldiers are possibly the trapped spirits forced into the armor and made to fight. Without the Shitennō to guide them back to the mortal world and rebirth, they would be trapped. It’s unclear if the smoke that was released when the Troopers destroyed the armor was also a destruction of the spirit or it released them to move onto rebirth.

The actual setup of the Youjakai mirrors the Buddha Heaven Realms.

* Ever blooming lotus sea
* 8 heavenly mountains surrounding the central mountain (castle)
* 4 gates of entry
* The central mountain housing the master that the Shitennō guard
* Imagery of demons and spirits hiding in many corners and backgrounds

Another interesting aspect of the Shitennō are they are the protectors of the Godai Nyorai 五大如来. These five are expressions of the absolute (transcendental) Buddha. They embody five fundamental wisdoms - wisdom against anger, envy, desire, ignorance, and pride - to help us break free from the cycle of death and rebirth.

* Dainichi Nyorai 大日如来 – center, void - converts ignorance and bewilderment into the wisdom of primordial awareness
* Ashuku Nyorai 阿閦如来 – east, earth - converts anger and aggression into mirror-like wisdom
* Hōshō Nyorai 宝生如来 – south, fire - converts pride and greed into the wisdom of equanimity
* Amida Nyorai 阿弥陀如来 – west, water - converts desire, lust and passion into the wisdom of discriminating awareness
* Fukūjōju Nyorai 不空成就如来 – north, air - converts jealousy and envy into all-accomplishing wisdom

The connection between the Godai Nyorai and the Troopers isn’t as strong. However, following their mental/emotional development, each of them starts the series with the negative trait and develops the positive trait as they get stronger.

* Ryo – Hōshō Nyorai (learns to control himself and puts his needs aside to save the others)
* Seiji – Dainichi Nyorai (develops the ability to see beyond himself to the truth of the situation)
* Shin – Amida Nyorai (conquers overconfidence to be cautious of too much power)
* Shuu – Ashuku Nyorai (turns illusion against the creator by controlling his aggression)
* Touma – Fukūjōju Nyorai (uses his mind to understand and have compassion)

The Troopers take on the role of helping to lead people from suffering and evil. The Masho/ Shitennō protect the Troopers from negative spirits and events to allow them to do such tasks. Both sides take on the roles of guardians, and the Masho/Shitennō are the first line of defense against suffering and evil.

As the Masho rediscover who they are and their purpose with the armor, they would become the Shitennō, rather than Masho. The Youjakai would become more of a revolving realm where spirits purge negative karma to be reborn. It also implies that Shuten will return to the Masho and reclaim his armor. Kayura is a poor fit for the armor and spiritual ideals of any of the Shitenno.

1. ↑ A-to-Z Photo Dictionary of Japanese Religious Sculpture & Art, ​​SHITENNŌ = Four Heavenly Kings https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/shitenno.shtml. Accessed June 21, 2022.