Hachiman.

With the plenty of variety of gods recognized by Japan's native religion, Shinto, and the divine beings identified in Buddhism, it involves no surprise that countless statuaries, images, icons, and stories are scattered throughout the whole country. The tattoos, naturally, exist on the skin of people who believe in Bishamonten, or a minimum of among his lots of types. Bishamonten, Heian Period, Kurama Holy Place 鞍馬寺 (Kyoto), Nat'l Treasure, Wood, H = 176 centimeters. Bishamon using his left hand as a visor over his eyes.

When conjured up en masse, these gods offer general protection and good luck. His heavy armor and demanding expression mark Bishamonten out as the customer of warriors. In a fit of rage as well as revenge, his father Izanagi continued to lop off Kagutsuchi's head - and also the spilled blood led to the creation of even more kami, including martial rumbling gods, hill gods, and also even a dragon god.

One of 12 Deva (Jūniten 十二天), the guardians of the twelve instructions in Mystical Buddhism (Mikkyō 密教); lord of the north, holds stupa in left hand; these 12 appear regularly in mandala paintings (e.g. Taizōkai Mandala, Anchin Mandala, Jūniten Mandala) and various other art work.

The sculpture was constructed in the 17th century and also was made from conventional Japanese wood sculpting as well as metal casting methods. When Buddhism made its means bishamon god of war into Japan, Bishamonten's name remained largely the same however his personality still increased - a lot more on that below.