The Role of Jugo-Dōji 十五童子 （The Accompanying Fifteen Attendants） and Tokuzen-Daiō 徳善大王 in the Origins of Benzaiten 弁才天

Abstract

This paper discusses the relationship between Benzaiten 弁才天, the accompanying fifteen attendants （Jugo-Dōji 十五童子）, and Tokuzen-Daiō 徳善大王 in Jisha-Engi 寺社縁起 （origin stories of temples and shrines）.

Comparison shows that the Engi of Minoo 箕面 have influenced various regions, but each tradition differs. In Tenkawa 天川, it is thought that the Minoo beliefs were trans­mitted when there were tales of evil dragon extermination, and Tokuzen-Daiō and Benzaiten were considered a couple, but Ryūju-bosatsu 龍樹菩薩 （Nāgārjuna） did not appear. At Mt. Sefuri 背振山, it is believed there were myths about the search for a child, and the Minoo beliefs gave rise to the parent-child relationship between Tokuzen-Daiō and the fifteen attendants and that Ryūju-bosatsu appeared. In Enoshima 江島, Tokuzen-Daiō and Ryūju-bosatsu are only mentioned by name and positioned as Benzaiten’s attendants.

In addition, the origin stories of Tenkawa and Mt. Sefuri （Enoshima is the exception） begin with the story of the gods and Buddha, whereas the origin story of Minoo begins with En-no-Gyōja’s 役行者 encounter with them. This difference may be related to whether or not the fifteen attendants and Tokuzen-Daiō were given the role of Benzaiten’s family members.

It is believed that texts such as the Keiran-shuyō-shū 渓嵐拾葉集 played a certain role by collecting and re-distributing various regions’ legends.