Twelve Heavenly Generals

They are the 12 attendants (or incarnations) of Yakushi Nyorai, and are the top of the 84,000. They are also called the Twelve Yakusha (Yaksha) Generals. They are said to protect those who recite the Yakushi Hongan Kudokukyo Sutra, and their appearances are said to conform to the 12 great vows of Yakushi Nyorai. They are the generals of (1) Kubira, (2) Basara, (3) Meikira, (4) Anchira, (5) Manira, (6) Sanchira, (7) Indara, (8) Baira, (9) Makora, (10) Shindara, (11) Shotora, and (12) Vikara, all of whom are in wrathful forms. Their names are based on the Medicine Sutra, and their appearances and possessions are based on the Ritual Offerings of the Seven Buddhas' Original Vows Sutra. In the Buddhist scriptures, there is no relation to the twelve zodiac signs, but the twelve zodiac signs are attached as symbols because they protect the twelve hours of the day and night. Basically, those without the twelve zodiac signs are called "Koyo" and those with them are called "Shinyo". The oldest iconography is the "Twelve Heavenly Generals" at Daigoji Temple, and the oldest sculpture is the clay statue at Shin-Yakushiji Temple (Tenpyo period, 11 statues excluding Miyabira are national treasures). Other famous examples include the wooden statue at Koryuji Temple (late Heian period, national treasure), the wooden statue at Kofuku-ji Temple (Kamakura period) and the wood carving (late Heian period, both national treasures), and the "Twelve Heavenly Generals of Yakushi" at Sakurachi-in Temple, Mt. Koya. There are also statues with human bodies and animal heads.

[Toshiaki Manabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

薬師如来(やくしにょらい)の12の眷属(けんぞく)（または分身）で、8万4000あるうちの上首に位置する。十二薬叉(やくしゃ)（夜叉(やしゃ)）大将ともいう。『薬師本願功徳経(ほんがんくどくきょう)』を誦持(じゅじ)する者を守り、その出現のようすは薬師如来の12の大願に順応して現れるという。すなわち、(1)宮毘羅(くびら)、(2)伐折羅(ばさら)、(3)迷企羅(めいきら)、(4)安底羅(あんちら)、(5)摩儞羅(まにら)、(6)珊底羅(さんちら)、(7)因陀羅(いんだら)、(8)婆夷羅(ばいら)、(9)摩虎羅(まこら)、(10)真達羅(しんだら)、(11)招杜羅(しょうとら)、(12)毘羯羅(びから)の大将で、いずれも憤怒形である。名称は前述の『薬師経』に、身色や持ち物は『七仏本願経儀軌供養法(しちぶつほんがんきょうぎきくようほう)』に基づく。経典では十二支と関係はないが、昼夜12時を護持するという理由から十二支をシンボルとして付属させる。基本的には、十二支がないものを古様(こよう)、あるものを新様という。図像では醍醐寺(だいごじ)本『十二神将図』、彫刻では新薬師寺の塑像（天平(てんぴょう)時代、宮毘羅を除く11躯(く)は国宝）が最古。ほかに広隆寺の木像（平安後期、国宝）や興福寺の木像（鎌倉時代）および板彫（平安後期、ともに国宝）、画像では高野山(こうやさん)桜池院(ようちいん)の『薬師十二神将』が著名。人身獣頭の像もある。

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