Tennin

"Tennin" (天人) including the female "tennyo" (天女) (Sanskrit: "apsaras") and "tenshi" (天使) are spirits found in Japanese Buddhism that are similar to Western angels or fairies. [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/tennin.html Tennin] at [http://www.pantheon.org/ Encyclopedia Mythica] ] They were imported from Chinese Buddhism, [http://www.mukashibanashi.org/overview.html An Overview of Japanese Folklore] at the [http://www.mukashibanashi.org/ Mukashibanashi Library] ] which was influenced itself by the concepts of heavenly beings found in Indian Buddhism and Chinese Taoism.

"Tennin" are mentioned in Buddhist sutras, and these descriptions form the basis for depictions of the beings in Japanese art, sculpture, and theater. They are usually pictured as unnaturally beautiful women dressed in ornate, colorful kimonos (traditionally in five colors), exquisite jewelry, and flowing scarves that wrap loosely around their bodies. They usually carry lotus blossoms as a symbol of enlightenment or play musical instruments such as the biwa, or flute. [http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/karyoubinga.html#tennin Tennin] at [http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/buddhism.shtml GODS of Japan, A-to-Z Photo Dictionary of Japanese Buddhism (Buddhist & Shinto Deities)] ] [Hearn, Lafcadio, [http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/8glm110.txt "Glimpses of an Unfamiliar Japan"] at [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8130 Project Gutenberg] online book catalog]

"Tennin" live in the Buddhist heaven as the companions to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Some legends also make certain "tennin" solitary creatures living on mountain peaks. Pilgrims sometimes climb these mountains in order to meet the holy spirits. [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/tennin.html Tennin] at [http://www.pantheon.org/ Encyclopedia Mythica] ]

"Tennin" can fly, a fact generally indicated in art by their colored or feathered kimonos, called "hagoromo" ("dress of feathers"). [http://www.mukashibanashi.org/overview.html An Overview of Japanese Folklore] at the [http://www.mukashibanashi.org/ Mukashibanashi Library] ] In some legends "tennin" are unable to fly without these kimonos (and thus cannot return to heaven).Waley, Arthur (1921), [http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/npj/npj30.htm "The Noh Plays of Japan", Chapter V] , p. 177, "A Note on Hagoromo"] More rarely, they are shown with feathered wings. [http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/karyoubinga.html#tennin Tennin] at [http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/buddhism.shtml GODS of Japan, A-to-Z Photo Dictionary of Japanese Buddhism (Buddhist & Shinto Deities)] ] In a Noh play "Hagoromo", which bears a number of similarities to the Western swan maiden legends, [ [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/the_burren/connor_oquin.htm The Legend of Connor O'Quin and the Swan Maiden] at [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/the_burren/burren_folklore.htm Folklore of the Burren] ] "tennyo" come to the earth and take off their "hagoromo". A fisherman spies them and hides their clothes in order to force one to marry him. After some years he tells his wife what he did, and she finds her clothes and returns to heaven.).Waley, Arthur (1921), [http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/npj/npj30.htm "The Noh Plays of Japan", Chapter V] , p. 177, "A Note on Hagoromo"] The legend says it occurred on the beach of Miyo, now a part of the city of Shizuoka).

Tennin in fiction

Tennin are central to
* The anime ""
* The hentai anime "Twin Dolls"

Tennin appear in
*

There is a Korean analog too, sun-nyu, which can be seen in

* Faeries' Landing manwha by You Hyun

References