四天王

四天王

1. (Buddhism) synonym of 四大天王 (sìdàtiānwáng, “the four heavenly kings”)
2. (chiefly ACG, by extension) the four most superior individuals within a group or field

Ultimately a calque of Sanskrit चतुर्महाराज (caturmahārāja, literally “four great kings”).

Equivalent to 四 (shi, “four”) +‎ 天王 (tennō, “heavenly king”).

• (Tokyo) してんのー [shìtéńnóꜜò] (Nakadaka – [4])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [ɕitẽ̞nːo̞ː]

四(し)天(てん)王(のう) • (shitennō) ^{←してんわう (siten'wau)?}

1. (Buddhism) the four gods believed to be watching over the four cardinal directions:
   1. 持国天 (Jikokuten, “Dhṛtarāṣṭra”), east
   2. 増長天 (Zōjōten, “Virūḍhaka”), south
   3. 広目天 (Kōmokuten, “Virūpākṣa”), west
   4. 多聞天 (Tamonten, “Vaiśravaṇa”), north

   Synonyms: 四大天王 (shi daitennō), 四天 (shiten)

2. (by extension) the four most superior individuals within a group or field

• 御三家(ごさんけ) (gosanke, “a famous trio”)