| Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan |
| Japanese name |
| Kanji |
講道館四天王 |
| Hiragana |
こうどうかんしてんのう |
Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan refers to the four notable judo competitors of the early Kōdōkan: Tsunejiro Tomita, Yamashita Yoshiaki, Yokoyama Sakujiro, and Saigō Shirō.
Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan
"Kōdōkan Shiten'nō" (講道館四天王) literally translates as Four Heavenly Kings[1] of the Kōdōkan. Shiten'nō refers to four Devarajas, Hindu gods, historically adapted by the Japanese in Buddhism.[2] Traditionally, the Four Heavenly Kings are the guardian gods that are worshipped as the protecting deities of Buddhist sanctuaries.[3]
When Kanō Jigorō began to develop judo from jujutsu, his efforts met with opposition from jujutsu practitioners. However, Kano drew a loyal following that included exceptional fighters. Hence the term "Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan" came into existence referring to Tsunejiro Tomita along with Yamashita Yoshiaki, Yokoyama Sakujiro, and Saigō Shirō.[4]
| Four Guardians of the Kōdōkan |
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See also
Shitennō (samurai)
Shitennō (Tokugawa clan)
References
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