Tenbu
In India's ancient religious traditions which influenced Buddhism, certain auxiliary deities are called deva, translated in Japanese as ten (or, as a collectivity, tembu). There are various types of ten and there are also numerous deities known as shin. These deities usually first appeared in ancient Indian myths, and from the time of Siddhartha Gautama (the Historical Buddha) they developed a deep interrelationship with Buddhism. Once incorporated into the Buddhist tradition, they became objects of faith and came to be worshiped as protectors of the Buddhist Law (dharma in Sanskrit). Popular examples are Kichijoten, Hachibushu (the so-called Eight Legions), and Shitenno (Four Deva Kings). With the development of Esoteric Buddhism (mikkyo), the number of these auxiliary tembu deities increased even further. They became particularly important for the design of mandalas, where they appear in great number.
Iconographically, they wear "deva clothing," which almost always includes a skirt or wrap-around tunic, and often leaves the upper part of the torso exposed. They often wear elaborate crown-like headdresses and other decorative accessories.
Many of the artistic representations of devas are revered as "attendants" placed at the sides of usually larger Buddhist images which serve as the main focuses of devotion. Certain devas, however, like Kichijoten, Benzaiten, and Suiten, received independent status as main objects of devotion, attracting the faith of wide segments of the Japanese people.
