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Benten - In Japanese folklore Saraswati, the Hindu river goddess, was transformed as Benton into the genius of music, the guardian of eloquence, and the giver of wealth. As a deity of good fortune, she had been quite popular and there are many local legends that tell of her and her shrines.

Bishaman-tenno - One of the celestial guardians of the world, he was successfully reincarnated by Prince Shotou in 587 during a campaign against the anti-Buddhist clans of Japan.

Bodhidharma - Ta-mo of China, Daruma of Japan and the founder of the Ch'an Tsung or 'inner-light school' of Buddhism. The sect was one of the most distinctive and original products of the Chinese mind, while its culmination as Zen in Japan has had a profound effect of both East and West Asia.

Buga - Literally, 'god'. The supreme deity of the Tungus people in Siberia. Buga created the first people out of iron, fire, water and earth.

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Dainichi-nyorai - The Buddha Mahavairocana, the 'great illuminator', was the special form of the Enlightened One for the Shingon sect. He is depicted as seated in deep serene contemplation on a white lotus; around him raged his emanations, stretching outward through bodhisattvas and saints to the myriad beings which compromise the universal order. It is possible to evoke magical powers that allow Dainichi-nyorai to realize his presence on earth.

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Erlanga - The only Balinese prince to govern the islands of both Bali and Java. His eventful life encouraged the accretion of legend, so that his death image was made in the shape of Vishnu seated on the sun-bird, Garuda. Erlanga was an incarnation of Vishnu.

Erlik - In Siberian mythology Erlik was the spirit of evil who was sometimes thought of as the primeval man fallen from grace. In Lapp mythology, he was always the lord of the underworld; the monstrous guardian of departed souls. The Black Tartars believe that the spittle of Erlik was responsible for the present appearance of mankind.

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Fu Hsi - Legendary Chinese emperor, thought to have ruled at the beginning of the third millennium BC.

Fudo-myoo - The guardian of wisdom, 'the unshakable spirit'. One of several forces or formulae personified in Japanese Buddhism. Fudo-myoo, and intense saver of souls, is the friend of the ascetics.

Fugen-bosatu - In Japan the bodhisattva Samantbhadra, who will be the final Buddha. He is a young man seated on an elephant, white with six tusks. He either carries a lotus flower or, like Avalokitesvara, has his hands joined together. Fugen-bosatu appeared as a monk courtesan, thereby revealing that buddhahood was potential in all beings.

Fujiyama - The troubles of medieval was a prime cause in the revival in the Shinto belief. Mount Fuji was the abode of the supreme deity and thus, Fujiyama became the protector of the nation. Mount Fuji is only to be climbed after ritual purification.

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Gimokodan - The nether world of Bagobo tribes of Mindanao in the Philippines. A giant female resides in the dark river that surrounds this place. Her body is covered with nipples and she suckles infants before they pass on. Gimokodan is divided into two parts. The red is for those killed in combat and the white is for those killed in the normal world except everything is reversed.

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Hachiman - The Shinto war god, a popular deity in Japan. While the favorite of soldiers, Hachiman is also worshipped as a protector of life, especially children, as the god of agriculture and as the guardian deity of the Archipelago. In 783, he was styled a bodhisattva.

Hari-Hara - Literal meaning, 'grower-remover' Hari is a popular name for Vishnu and Hara is a popular name for Shiva and together they symbolize the great opposites, creation-destruction, life-death: the intimate harmony of the two supreme, antagonist divine principles. Visually Hari-Hara is Shiva on the right and Vishnu on the left. Examples are found in the temples of Cambodia, a once renowned Hindu-Buddhist area.

Hou T'u - The agricultural culture of China is clearly seen in the worship given to Hou T'u. The name means 'prince of the earth'. Every village possessed a shrine to honor Hou T'u, with the shrines being larger for bigger cities so the public cult could worship.

Hsien - Literally 'an immortal', living on or above the earth, but within natural things. Hsien was a material immortality in which the body was still needed, however preserved in a 'lightened' form. Hsien were Taoist immortals who were supposed to have partaken in the elixir of life and were portrayed as feathered men.

Huang-ti - Literally, 'yellow emperor'. Huang-ti is the patron saints of all Taoists and is associated with Lao-tzu. Huang-ti is among the most ancient of the legendary emperors but among the last to be invented. Haung-ti attained perfection, within and without and is the cultural founder of the hero. This benevolent king left his mark by subduing rebels.

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Inari - In Shinto mythology, Inari was the god of rice and was sometimes called the food god. Inari was identified with Uke-mochi, the good genius. Every Japanese village contains a shrine dedicated to Inari, and in many houses she also receives prayers as the bringer of wealth and friendship.

Izanami - The primeval mother of Shinto, she was the sister and spouse of Izanagi, who unsuccessfully descended into the nether world after her.

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Jizo-bosatu - Ti-tsang of China, Jizo of Japan - the bodhisattva Ksitigarbha - wanders eternally through the realms of hell, comforting tortured souls and rescuing them from darkness by his very presence. Ksitigarbha was not very popular in India, but his aspect of judging the dead made him a very popular bodhisattva with the Chinese.

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