Gozu-Tennō in Correspondence with a Human Being: “Kannō-ji-engi” in Asaba-shō

Abstract

Gozu-Tennō is generally known as a deva of epidemic prevention, but in “Kannō-ji-engi” of Asaba-shō he appears as an omnipotent God. Probably this representational change can be attributed to the esoteric philosophy of the Tentai School in which the deva is identified with Guanyin. According to “Kannō-ji-engi,” Gozu-Tennō was worshipped as the “God of Kawamae” at Kannō-ji Temple where the ritual was allegedly formed by the “kannō” or “correspondence” between the founder Ichien and the deva.