Yasha

Yasha are kijin (demon gods) of Buddhist cosmology. Worshipped as both benevolent nature gods and wrathful demons. Yasha are one of the eight legions. Eight supernatural races who listened to the sermons of Shaka Nyōrai. Yasha serve Buddhism in a number of ways. Most importantly, the Twelve Heavenly Generals (the twelve most fearsome yasha), serve as the bodyguards of Yakushi Nyōrai, the buddha of medicine. They wage war on sickness and fight the enemies of Buddhism. Their leader "General Kubira" is also a Shinto kami who is believed to be a manifestation of Konpira who is enshrined as Omononushi alongside Sutoku Tenno at the Kotohira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku. Since there are twelve particularly fearsome yasha, the twelve heavenly generals are important in astrology who are each associated with an animal of the Chinese zodiac.