Gohō dōji
A gohō dōji (護法童子) (child of the defense of the Law) is a type of guardian spirit from Japanese Buddhist folklore devoted to serving followers of the dharma. In classic stories from medieval collections such as the Uji Shui Monogatari, it is generally depicted as a young boy wearing a collar of swords, with a large sword in one hand and a noose in the other. It flies through the air by riding a Wheel of Dharma.
.jpg)
A classic illustration of a Gohō dōji from the Shigisan-engi.
See also
- Dharmapala
- Four Kumaras - A group of semi-divine sage boys in Hinduism
- Fudō-myōō
- Putto - In Greco-Roman mythology and Renaissance Christian art
- Shikigami
Sources
- Blacker, Carmen (1963). "The Divine Boy in Japanese Buddhism". Asian Folklore Studies, vol. 22. Nanzan University.
| Buddhas 如来部 (Nyorai-bu) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Bodhisattvas 菩薩部 (Bosatsu-bu) | ||
| Wisdom Kings 明王部 (Myōō-bu) | ||
| Heavenly deities 天部 (Ten-bu) |
| |
| Circumstantial appearances 垂迹身部 (Suijakushin-bu) |
| |
| Religious masters 高僧・祖師部 (Kōsō・Soshi-bu) |
| |
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.