Shitennō a Japanese term normally referring to the Buddhist

Buddhism in Japan

The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the Nara period , the Heian period and the post-Heian period . Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools...

 Four Heavenly Kings

Four Heavenly Kings

In the Buddhist faith, the Four Heavenly Kings are four gods, each of whom watches over one cardinal direction of the world.The Kings are collectively named as follows:...

, is also applied to particularly famous or loyal retainers, in groups of four, to certain of Japan's most famous legendary and historical figures.

The following four are referred to in legend as the Shitennō of Minamoto no Yorimitsu

Minamoto no Yorimitsu

, also known as Minamoto no Raikō, served the regents of the Fujiwara clan along with his brother Yorinobu, taking the violent measures the Fujiwara were themselves unable to take...

 (also known as Raikō) (944-1021):

• Sakata no Kintoki - known as Kaidomaru in his past. Kintoki originated from the House of Suzaku
  Suzaku
  Suzaku may refer to:* Suzaku, the Japanese name for the Chinese Vermilion Bird , bird guardian of the South*Emperor Suzaku, emperor of Japan*SUZAK Inc., also known as Suzaku, a video game developer* Suzaku Avenue, one of the ancient main streets e.g...
  
  .
• Urabe no Suetake
  Urabe no Suetake
  Urabe no Suetake was a retainer of the legendary hero Minamoto no Yorimitsu , supposedly during the Heian period in 12th century Japan. Suetake assisted Raikō throughout his life, being referred to as one of The Four Guardian Kings under Raikō. Suetake originated from the House of Seiryū...
  
   - Originated from the House of Sōryū
• Usui Sadamitsu
  Usui Sadamitsu
  ' was a warrior of the mid-Heian period. His official name was '.According to Otogizōshi stories compiled several centuries later, Sadamitsu was a retainer of the Japanese legendary hero Minamoto no Raikō. Sadamitsu is known as one of The Four Guardian Kings under Raikō. Alternatively, in Konjaku...
  
   - Originated from the House of Genbu
  Genbu
  Genbu can refer to:* Black Tortoise, a Chinese constellation symbol* Genbu ‎‎, a fictional character in the series YuYu Hakusho* Genbu , a fictional character in the series Fushigi Yūgi...
  
  .
• Watanabe no Tsuna
  Watanabe no Tsuna
  ' was a Japanese samurai, a retainer of Minamoto no Yorimitsu , one of the earliest samurai to be famed for his military exploits.-In Legend:...
  
   - Originated from the House of Byakko
  Byakko
  Byakko may refer to:* White Tiger , one of the divisions in the sky in traditional Chinese astronomy* Byakko , an anthropomorphic white tiger demon character in YuYu Hakusho...
  
  .

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

was a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older brother Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura...

 (1159–1189) was accompanied by the following four, his so-called Shitennō, who feature in the kabuki

Kabuki

is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...

 play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura

Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura

Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura , or Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, is a Japanese play, one of the three most popular and famous in the Kabuki repertoire...

and other works:

• Suruga Jirō
• Kamei Rokurō
• Kataoka Hachirō
• Ise Saburō