Idaten

Idaten (韋駄天) is the swift guardian of monasteries. Legend tells that when a demon stole a tooth of the Buddha after his cremation, Idaten chased the thief and recovered the relic in an instant. His speed became proverbial in Japanese, and his image keeps watch over the kitchens and storehouses of Zen temples.

Japanese 韋駄天, Idaten
Sanskrit Skanda
Rank Deva
Recognise by A youthful warrior in Chinese armour; hands joined in prayer with a sword resting across the forearms
Placed in Monastery kitchens and halls, especially in Zen temples

Identifying Idaten

Idaten looks like one of the Four Heavenly Kings, but young and composed. His distinctive pose joins the hands in prayer, gasshō, with a long sword laid horizontally across the forearms. He wears a helmet and Chinese armour with flowing scarves and stands on a rock or cloud rather than on demons.

Guardian of the kitchen

Zen monasteries place Idaten in the kitchen and administrative building, kuri, where he protects the monks' food and the community's property. A popular explanation links the Japanese word for a feast, gochisō, written with characters for running about, to Idaten's dashing to gather food for monks, though the etymology is a pleasant folk tale.

Idaten in Japanese art

The Ōbaku Zen temple of Manpukuji in Uji, founded by Chinese monks in the seventeenth century, keeps an Idaten of distinctly Ming Chinese style. Kamakura and Muromachi Zen temples preserve many smaller figures.

Collecting notes

  • Idaten figures are scarce outside temples. Small Edo period figures for household or subtemple use occasionally appear.
  • The sword across the forearms is a separate piece and frequently lost.

In the collection

Browse guardian deities. Our collector concierge can search Japan for an Idaten image.

See also

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