Japanese Buddhist Astrology and Astral Magic

Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 45/1: 37–86
© 2018 Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture

dx.doi.org/10.18874/jjrs.45.1.2018.37-86
Jeffrey Kotyk
Japanese Buddhist Astrology and Astral Magic

Mikkyō and Sukuyōdō
This study investigates the sources of Japanese Buddhist astrology and astral
magic while also examining their later developments, arguing that a significant
amount of such arts actually originated in the Near East. Two types of Bud-
dhist astrology are identified: “Mikkyō Astrology,” which was primarily used
to determine auspicious days for rituals in Shingon and Tendai, and Suku-
yōdō, the sole Japanese tradition to practice horoscopy. The role of astral magic
within these Buddhist traditions is furthermore examined, with a particular
focus on the Japanese reception of icons that in large part originated from Ira-
nian sources that had been earlier received in Tang China. Finally, this study
attempts to demonstrate the larger cultural significance of Buddhist astrology
in medieval Japanese society.
keywords: Buddhism—astrology—magic—Mikkyō—Sukuyōdō—horoscopy
Jeffrey Kotyk is Visiting Fellow at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
37
I
n the first chapter of the Genji monogatari 源氏物語 (Tale of Genji) by
Murasaki Shikibu (ca. 973–ca. 1014), the emperor was troubled about
whether to bestow an imperial rank upon his youngest—albeit most cher-
ished—son, whose mother was not of a suitably high rank. In light of the lack
of maternal support he would suffer if he were granted an elevated rank, the
emperor had decided to keep the boy’s status as a commoner. A visiting Korean
sage agreed that this was best. Later, the emperor summoned a Buddhist astrol-
oger, who also expressed the same opinion. It was therefore decided that the
boy would be a commoner with the name of Genji (1, 45). In chapter fourteen
(2, 106), a Buddhist astrologer-monk again makes an appearance to predict the
number of children Genji would have and their respective fates. The term used
to refer to these astrologer-monks, or their art, is sukuyō 宿曜 (constellations and
planets).
Although these figures play a very minor role in this fictional tale, they were,
in fact, a highly significant community within the Japanese aristocracy from the
tenth to the fourteenth century. Various misunderstandings, however, persist in
modern scholarship.1 To complicate matters, if one browses the shelves of books
on fortune telling (uranai 占い) in a modern Japanese bookshop, one will find
many popular books, meant for general readers, on a system of astrology called
sukuyō. The blurbs on the covers of these books often connect this astrology to
Kūkai 空海 (774–835), the founder of the Shingon lineage in Japan, stating that
he brought this system of astrology from Tang China in 806. What, if any, con-
nection is there between these twenty-first century works on “sukuyō” and the
sukuyō known to Murasaki Shikibu? What was the role of Kūkai in the trans-
mission of astrology to Japan? This article will answer these questions by tracing
the history of Buddhist astrology in Japan, in addition to discussing the various
types of astral magic that accompanied it.
I argue in this study that Japanese Buddhist astrology should be understood
as comprising two types. The first type should be called “Mikkyō Astrology.”
This tradition is an integral component within the ritual frameworks of Shin-
gon and Tendai, being primarily based on an astrology manual comprised of
mostly Indian materials, brought to Japan in the ninth century, which we will
*This research was funded by the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation and administered by acls.
1. Athanasios Drakakis (2011, 687), for example, completely misunderstands the history and
features of Buddhist astrology in Japan. With respect to sukuyō in the Tale of Genji, see Kotyk
(2016, 88–90).
38
kotyk: buddhist astrology and astral magic | 39
discuss below. The second type is the astrology of Sukuyōdō 宿曜道, which refers
to a lineage of Buddhist astrologer-monks that emerged in the late tenth century.
This latter type of astrology includes all of the material of the former, as well as
an advanced system of horoscopy, whose lore and techniques are in large part
traced back to the Near East (Hellenistic Egypt and Iran), rather than India, in
addition to incorporating several elements derived from Daoism.2 My identifi-
cation of Sukuyōdō as a unique lineage of astrologers is based on the research
of Momo (1975), whose work was later substantially developed by Yamashita
(1990; 1996). Drawing on my earlier research of Chinese sources (Kotyk 2017a;
2017b), I also seek to demonstrate that the astral magic practiced by Japanese
Buddhists from the early Heian period includes some hitherto unrecognized
elements that originated in the Near East, rather than in India or China, that
Japanese Buddhists further developed in their own unique way. One final aim of
this article is to demonstrate that Buddhist astrology played an immensely influ-
ential role in medieval Japanese society and religion, and as such it ought to be
taken into greater consideration in studies of medieval Japanese culture.
Historical Background
Indian astrology was first introduced into Chinese via the Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna,
a Buddhist scripture, which was first translated by Dharmarakṣa 竺法護 between
307 and 313, titled the Shetoujian Taizi ershiba xiu jing 舍頭諫太子二十八宿経
(t 1301; Sutra of Prince Śārdūlakarṇa and the twenty-eight nakṣatras). A separate
recension of the Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna, likely having been produced in Central
Asia, was translated as the *Mātaṅga-sūtra (Modengjia jing 摩登伽経; t 1300) by
Guṇabhadra 求那跋陀羅 (394–468). These texts explain native Indian astrology
based on the nakṣatras, but this system was neither practical nor actually neces-
sary for early Buddhists in China to implement. The Mahāsaṃnipāta (Dafang-
deng daji jing 大方等大集経; t 397) includes three separate texts dealing in part
with astrology, but again such astrology with its Indian parameters was never
implemented in East Asia.
As I have discussed in an earlier article (Kotyk 2017a), it was only in the
eighth century, when Mantrayāna was introduced into China, that Buddhists
came to have a pressing need to practice astrology. The responsibility of pro-
ducing an authoritative, and moreover practical, manual of astrology for deter-
mining auspicious days to carry out rituals fell to Amoghavajra 不空 (705–774),
2. Horoscopy is the art of producing charts that show the positions of the planets at a given
time and date, such as the time when a person was born (that is, a natal chart). It is from such
a chart that the astrologer interprets the planetary positions according to various doctrines in
order to make predictions concerning the individual’s personality and fortunes in life. See Neu-
gebauer and Van Hoesen (1959); Pingree (1997); Brennan (2017).
40 | Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 45/1 (2018)
who compiled the Xiuyao jing 宿曜経 (t 1299), first in 759, followed by a revision
in 764.3 The Xiuyao jing was primarily designed for katarchic astrology, but it
also teaches basic genethliacal astrology based on the nominal position of the
Moon at birth, in which predictions are made concerning an individual’s fate
and personality. The content of the text is evidently non-Buddhist, given its pre-
scriptions for alcohol and weapon production (Kotyk 2017c, 511–12), and more-
over it likely draws upon an earlier Sui-era (581–618) Chinese translation of what
appears to have been the Gārgīya-jyotiṣa, a classical Indian manual of astrology
(Kotyk 2016, 105).
Amoghavajra’s translation of astrology and its subsequent implementation
within the Chinese sangha, which was never hampered by Buddhist monastic
regulations that at least in theory prohibited the professional practice of astrol-
ogy (Kotyk 2017c), later prompted widespread interest in astrology within
wider Chinese society. An accessible calendar was necessary in order to practice
astrology. Cao Shiwei 曹士蒍 (d.u.) first produced such a calendar between 780–
783, calling his work the Futian li 符天暦, which he further updated around the
year 806 (details reconstructed by Takesako 2016). Popular interest in astrology
during the late eighth century also encouraged the translation of non-Buddhist
literature concerning horoscopy after Amoghavajra’s time, most notably the Duli
yusi jing 都利聿斯経 between 795–805, which was brought to China by a certain
Li Miqian 李彌乾 (d.u.), said to be from Western India, under whom Cao Shiwei
also studied (Kotyk 2017a, 46). Based on the extant fragments of this text, we
know that it was a translation of the work of Dorotheus of Sidon (c. 75), a Hel-
lenistic astrologer (Mak 2014). On this point, it is noteworthy that Nakayama
(1994, 41) suggested that Cao Shiwei was ethnically from a family from the west-
ern regions, which, if they spoke Iranian languages, would have likely meant
ease of communication between him and Li Miqian.
Li Miqian was indeed likely ethnically Iranian given his expertise. He also
introduced into China the system of the “eleven planets,” which includes the five
visible planets, plus the Sun, the Moon, Rāhu, Ketu, Ziqi 紫炁 and Yuebei 月孛, as
well as all their associated astrological lore (Kotyk 2017a, 46–48). Iranian horo-
scopy was incorporated into the Buddhist Qiyao rangzai jue 七曜攘災決 (t 1308;
Secrets of seven-planet apotropaism). This astrology manual includes ephemeri-
des for the five visible planets plus Rāhu and Ketu, that were either pulled from
or based upon the Futian li calendar by Cao Shiwei (Ziqi and Yuebei were not
3. Yano (2013, 226–50) has demonstrated that the “mainland recension” of the Xiuyao jing
in the Taishō canon is considerably different from the “Japanese recension.” The latter can be
traced back to the ninth century, having been brought by Japanese monks, and moreover best
represents the original version of the text. The Japanese recension was also exclusively used in
the medieval period, hence in this study I will cite the Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 宿曜経縮刷 (2 vols),
a typeset version of the Japanese recension, edited by Wakita Bunshō 脇田文紹 (1897).
used by Buddhists in Tang China or Japan).4 The Qiyao rangzai jue also teaches
astral magic as a means of counteracting unfavorable astrological prognosti-
cations, which was adapted from Indian, Chinese, and Iranian sources. Such
astrology and astral magic were studied by both Buddhists and Daoists. Japanese
monks who visited China during the ninth century were therefore exposed to a
culture increasingly immersed in astrology, an atmosphere reflected even in the
poetry of the late Tang (Kotyk 2016, 93–96).
Turning to Japan, indigeneous religious beliefs regarded some celestial bodies
as deities, most notably Amaterasu, the solar goddess, although no systematic
calendrical science or celestial omenology were developed prior to the introduc-
tion of Chinese culture. Hosoi (2008, 48–49) argues that this was due to the
absence of systematic government in ancient Japan (Wakoku 倭国). If such a
state had existed, then record and time keeping would have facilitated the devel-
opment of observational astronomy. There was, moreover, a lack of sailing on
the deep sea, which would have required celestial navigation.
Japan received texts explaining native Chinese astrology via the Korean Pen-
insula prior to the introduction of Indian and Near Eastern systems of astrology.
The Nihon shoki 日本書紀 (2, 179) reports that in the year 602, Gwalleuk (Kanroku
観勒), a monk from Baekje (Kudara 百濟), presented to the court “a calendar, as
well as books on astronomy and geomancy, together with books on ancient Chi-
nese astrology and divination.” These materials were studied by some students at
the time. In the following century, worship of Myōken 妙見 (*Sudṛṣṭi), the per-
sonification of Polaris (hokushin 北辰), flourished (Aruga 2000, 51). The Nihon
ryōiki 日本霊異記, an account of Buddhist stories compiled by Kyōkai 景戒 (d.u.)
around 822, reports that Shidehara Yamadera 信天原山寺 in Kawachi no Kuni
河内国 lit lamps as offerings to Myōken. The people of the Kinai 畿內 region
annually made lamp offerings. During the era of Empress Abe 帝姫安部 (that is,
Kōken Tennō 孝謙天皇, r. 749–758), the local devotees made offerings of lamps,
as well as money and valuables, to the custodian of the temple (g 17: 90–91). As
Yamashita (1996, 292) points out, this indicates that worship of Myōken flour-
ished during the Nara period.5 The belief in astral deities was therefore existent
even before the later developments of the Heian period, to which we now turn.
4. The Futian li is listed in the Nihonkoku genzai sho mokuroku 日本国見在書目録, a catalog of
books available in Japan, which was compiled by Fujiwara Sukeyo 藤原佐世 (847–898) in 891, as
Tō shichiyō futenreki 唐七曜符天暦 (National Diet Library edn., 33), hence the Futian li, or at least
the earlier version that deals with the seven visible planets (the Sun and Moon are included in this
count), was available in Japan sometime before 891. It is unclear when it was brought to Japan.
5. His cult was prominent in Japan, but never achieved the same prominence on the main-
land. As Sørensen (2010, 239) points out, the Japanese monk Ennin 円仁 (794–864), who visited
China between 838–847, observed worship of Sudṛṣṭi, which he recorded in his travelogue, the
Nittō guhō junrei gyōki 入唐求法巡礼行記 (1986, 3, 9, 22, 24, 35).
Mikkyō Astrology
Japan was already positively predisposed toward astrology when the first major
introduction of non-Chinese astrology into Japan occurred. Kūkai returned
home in 806 with a copy of the Xiuyao jing, which is listed in his catalog of texts,
the Go shōrai mokuroku 御請来目録 (t 2161, 55: 1062a23–24). Kūkai’s biography,
the Kōya Daishi go kōden 高野大師御広伝, produced by Shōken 聖賢 (1083–1147)
in 1118, reports that before the Daidō 大同 reign era (806–810), calendar spe-
cialists in Japan were unaware of the concept of Sunday (Z 8, no. 2: 661b14–17).6
This refers to the custom of the seven-day week, an originally Greco-Egyptian
concept that spread to Iran and India (Yano 2003, 384). Kūkai, therefore, ought
to be credited with first introducing the seven-day week into Japan.
The first known reference to the seven-day week in China is found in a Nesto-
rian (East Syriac) Christian (Jingjiao 景教) text, likely dating between 635–638
(t 2142, 54: 1288a24–25). A more precise explanation of the seven-day week is
given in the *Navagraha-karaṇa (Jiuzhi li 九執暦), a manual of mathematical
observational astronomy translated into Chinese in 718 by the court astronomer
Gautama Siddhārtha 瞿曇悉達 (d.u.). It provides a method for mathematically
determining the day of the week based upon the epoch of the manual, which in
the modern calendar corresponds to the year 657 (skqs 807: 934). The seven-day
week was again briefly mentioned by Yixing 一行 (673–727) and Śubhakarasiṃha
善無畏 (637–735) in their commentary on the *Mahāvairocana-sūtra (Dari jing
shu 大日経疏), compiled between 724–727 (t 1796, 39: 618a13; Kotyk 2018). The
seven-day week was only substantially explained in Chinese with its astrological
features made clear by Amoghavajra in his first draft of the Xiuyao jing in 759
(Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 2: 22–27). Although the method for calculating the day
of the week from the Navagraha-karaṇa is cited in the revised version of the
Xiuyao jing from 764 (Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 1: 40–41), the ultimate influence of
the Navagraha-karaṇa was negligible despite its scientific value. Nevertheless, it
is important to note here that Kūkai would have been exposed to such arithmetic
and perhaps mastered it.
Observance of the seven-day week and the nakṣatra calendar was essential
for the proper timing of Mantrayāna rituals, a point to which Kūkai evidently
paid attention. Kūkai’s understanding of the complexities of the Xiuyao jing is
6. As Takada (1992, 38) points out, the term for Sunday in this citation is mitsujitsu 密日,
which later appears in subsequent annotated almanacs (guchūreki 具注暦), and thus demon-
strates that this new astrology was influential outside the Japanese Buddhist fold. The first char-
acter is a phonetic transcription of the Sogdian myr (“the Sun”). The Sogdian is a transcription
of the corresponding Pahlavī (Middle Persian) mihr (Kotyk 2017a, 43). The use of the Sogdian
loanword here points to the popularity of what was originally Iranian astrology in late-Tang
China.
demonstrated by his explanation of intercalary months (jungetsu 潤月) and

“short months” (小月) in the Hino’o kuketsu 檜尾口訣, a record of Kūkai’s instruc-
tions by his disciple Jichie 実慧 (786–847) of Tōji 東寺 (t 2465, 78: 30c13–26). It
is clear that Shingon was explicitly interested in astrology from its beginning.
This was also the case with Taimitsu. Although Saichō 最澄 (767–822) does not
appear to have taken an interest in astrology, the following generation of Tendai
monks did. According to the Tendai monk Annen 安然 (841–915?) in his Sho
ajari Shingon mikkyō burui sōroku 諸阿闍梨真言密教部類総録, a catalog of Mik-
kyō texts, copies of the Xiuyao jing were also brought to Japan by the Tendai
monks Ennin in 847 and Enchin 円珍 (814–891) in 858.7
Ennin’s biography, the Jikaku Daishi den 慈覚大師伝, produced by Minamoto
no Fusaakira 源英明 (d. 939), relates that in the spring of 849, Ennin requested
permission to commence production of a Vajradhātu Maṇḍala 金剛界曼荼羅.
Ennin accordingly identified day eight of the fifth lunar month as a kanro nichi
甘露日, or “Day of Amṛta” (Z 8, no. 2: 691b5–8). This “Day of Amṛta” derives from
the Xiuyao jing, in which it is defined as a Sunday when the assigned nakṣatra of
that day is Hasta 軫. On such days, it is auspicious to carry out sacred acts, such
as receiving initiations (kanjō 灌頂), building temples, receiving precepts, study-
ing scriptures, ordaining as a monk, and practicing the path (Sukuyōkyō shuku-
satsu 1: 33). With respect to Enchin, Takada (1992, 40) points out that Enchin
authored some works related to the Xiuyao jing, including the Sukuyōkyō gishū
宿曜経疑集 and Sukuyōkyō mondō 宿曜経問答, and appears to have lectured on
the Xiuyao jing at the age of thirty before he went to China (Takada 1992, 56, n.
16). Xiuyao jing was a common text for Shingon and Taimitsu from their respec-
tive beginnings.
The Shingon monk Shūei 宗叡 (809–884) was responsible for bringing the first
manuals on horoscopy to Japan—the aforementioned Duli yusi jing and Qiyao
rangzai jue—when he returned in 865. Shūei lists them in his catalog (Shin shosha
shōrai hōmontō mokuroku 新書写請来法門等目録) as miscellaneous books (zōjo
雑書), while remarking that “although the above texts are not methods of
Dharma (hōmon 法門), they are required in the world” (t 2174A, 55: 1111b20–c1).
Although this indicates that horoscopy was, in fact, widely practiced in China
at the time, there is nothing to suggest that Shūei himself practiced it. There
is moreover no evidence indicating that any Japanese monk in the ninth cen-
tury practiced horoscopy. The first accounts of it being practiced appear in the
7. t 2176, 55: 1127b27. See also Enchin’s catalog, Nihon biku Enchin nittō guhō mokuroku 日本
比丘円珍入唐求法目録 (t 2172, 55: 1098b8). Ennin’s catalog, the Nittō shingu shōgyō mokuroku
入唐新求聖教目録 (t 2167, 55), does not list the Xiuyao jing. The Jikaku Daishi zaitō sōshin roku
慈覚大師在唐送進録 (t 2166, 55) also does not list it. Ennin’s travelogue from his time in China
(Nittō guhō junrei gyōki) never mentions Buddhist astrology. Nevertheless, Ennin was familiar
with the Xiuyao jing (see below).
following century, which we will discuss below. Here, the point to bear in mind
is that Mikkyō Astrology, based primarily on the Xiuyao jing, was satisfactory for
determining the most auspicious days to carry out rituals (that is, hemerology).
Mikkyō Astral Magic

Astrology was an essential component to Mikkyō from its beginning, but the
belief in astrology was not necessarily fatalistic, since magical means were avail-
able to avert prognosticated disasters. The background behind this was the ear-
lier connection in China between Buddhist astrology and the worship of astral
deities. The literature of early Chinese Mantrayāna from the lifetimes of Śub-
hakarasiṃha and Amoghavajra displays strong inclinations toward belief in
astrological determinism, so it is unsurprising to find that Chinese Buddhists
produced various rituals during the ninth century—some blending Indian and
Chinese elements—that evidently were born out of interest in, and even fear of,
the heavens above.
These concerns about astrological influences encouraged the develop-
ment of Buddhist cults centered on astral deities starting from the late Tang.
In particular, these cults focused on the deity that modern scholars refer to as
*Tejaprabhā (Chishengguang Fo 熾盛光仏). We should first note that “Tejapra-
bhā” is not attested in any Sanskrit source and this name, in fact, appears to be
a reverse-translation by Nanjō Bun’yū. Nanjō (1883, 222) reconstructed the title
of Foshuo chishengguang daweide xiaozai jixiang tuoluoni jing 仏説熾盛光大威徳
消災吉祥陀羅尼経 (later designated as t 963) as “Buddhabhāshita-tejaprabhā
mahābalagunāpadvināsa-srī-dhāranī-sūtra.” Amoghavajra is traditionally said
to be the translator, but a reading of this text reveals an element of native Chi-
nese astrology.8 Moreover, there is no record of Amoghavajra having translated
such a text or practiced such rituals. This perhaps explains why Kūkai seems to
have been unaware of Tejaprabhā when he returned in 806.9 A possibly related
figure to Tejaprabhā is Tejorāśi, but the cult of Tejaprabhā in East Asia was
entirely separate from Tejorāśi.10 The name “Tejaprabhā” is tentatively employed
8. The term fenye 分野 (“field allocation”) appears three times in this text. This is in reference
to the native Chinese system of “field allocation astrology.” For further details, see Pankenier
(2013, 265–73).
9. Jōnen 靜然 in the Gyōrin shō 行林抄 notes that this text was brought to Japan by a Chinese
merchant in 907. t 2409, 76: 84b21–22.
10. The Sanskrit of this name is reconstructed from the transcription 諦殊羅施 in Yixing’s
commentary on the Mahāvairocana-sūtra (t 1796, 39: 633c28). This figure is the fourth of five
uṣṇīṣas of the Tathāgata (如來五頂), representing the superior qualities of the five wisdoms of the
Tathāgata. Tejorāśi specifically represents the Tathāgata’s light removing the darkness of beings,
the *tejorāśyuṣṇīṣa (光聚仏頂 or 火聚頂). This figure is depicted as a male Indian figure within
the Garbhadhātu Maṇḍala (Somekawa 2013, 110–11).
figure 1. Tejaprabhā Maṇḍala in Asaba shō.
here with the understanding that it is a mistaken, albeit widely used, reconstruc-
tion in modern academia.
The primary and earliest Chinese text of the Tejaprabhā cult is titled Da
shengmiao jixiang pusa shuo chuzai jiaoling falun 大聖妙吉祥菩薩説除災教令
法輪 (t 966; Disaster eliminating edifying Dharma-wheel as taught by the
great and holy excellent auspicious bodhisattva), translated in the year 796 by
Śīlabhadra 尸羅跋陀羅 (d.u.) from Mahānālanda Saṃghārāma 大那爛陀寺
in Magadha. This work prescribes a homa ritual, along with the pro-
duction of a mandala, when the nation witnesses astrologically anom-
alous phenomena in the sky, such as comets appearing in the natal
nakṣatra of the ruler. The navagraha, twelve zodiac signs and twenty-
eight nakṣatras surrounding the *Tejaprabhā-buddhōṣṇīṣa 熾盛光仏頂 ,
are to be painted within the mandala. The emphasis on these astral fig-
ures highlights the deep connection between astrology and Tejaprabhā
from the beginning of the cult. Image plate no. 13 of fascile 58 of the Asaba shō
阿娑縛抄, a thirteenth-century Tendai compendium of Mikkyō practice and lore,
appears to be this mandala (figure 1). Its inscription states that it was created in
1140, based on an earlier version from Tō-in 唐院.
figure 2. Rāhu in Bonten kara zu.
figure 3. Ketu in Bonten kara zu.

With respect to the introduction of Tejaprabhā to Japan, Ennin’s catalog of items

brought back from China includes a “Tejaprabhā altar diagram” (Chisheng tan
yang 熾盛壇様) as one fascicle (t 2167, 55: 1084c8). The Asaba shō records that
in 849, Ennin established a Tejaprabhā practice at Sōjiin 総持院 (tz 9: 42a6–9).
It furthermore states that this ritual, described at length in the Asaba shō (fasc.
58–59), is a secret of the school (Tendai), being precious to the nation, and not
practiced at Tōji (tz 9: 24c3–5). It appears that the long-form Tejaprabhā ritual
was primarily practiced within Tendai, not Shingon.
The transmission of Tejaprabhā, as well as texts concerning astrology and
astral magic, also introduced the worship of planetary deities to Japan. Such
worship is a strong feature found within the Chinese Tejaprabhā cult. These dei-
ties were originally Indian, but many elements of the planetary deities in extant
materials reflect the later transition to Iranian motifs that occurred from the
beginning of the ninth century in China. Until recently, scholars have largely
misunderstood the origin and function of these planetary deities. Faure (2015,
97–98), for instance, states that “the origin of these figures remains obscure” and
suggests that in the figure of Mars “a Tantric influence is obvious.” My recent
research (Kotyk 2017b), however, has examined these icons in detail and traced
their origin to the Near East, hence eliminating the possibility of Tantric influ-
ences. I designate the representations normally accompanying depictions of
Tejaprabhā as “Iranian-Mesopotamian,” such as those seen in the famous Bonten
kara zu 梵天火羅図 (tz 7: 695): Mercury is a female scribe, Saturn is an elderly
“Brahmin” riding a bull, Venus is a female pipa (biwa 琵琶) player, Mars is a
red-colored four-armed warrior, Jupiter is a stately man in court attire, Rāhu is
a demonic four-armed figure atop a dragon, and Ketu is a demonic four-armed
figure on a bull. The dragon and bull here (see figures 2 and 3) are addition-
ally significant, given that they are based on the Iranian symbolic conception of
the ascending and descending nodes of the Moon, called gōzihr (that is, visu-
ally conceived as a dragon sprawling across the sky). The term itself semantically
means “bearing the seed, having the origin of cattle” or “the ox” (Mackenzie
1971, 37; 2012). The icons of the Sun and the Moon, in contrast, are Indian; the
Sun is a bodhisattva-like figure atop five horses, and the Moon is a similar figure
atop three geese. These figures are seen in earlier Buddhist materials stemming
from the time of Śubhakarasiṃha (720s) and were originally based on the motifs
of Āditya (or Sūrya) and Candra, respectively (Kotyk 2017b, 41).
The Iranian-Mesopotamian planetary icons are also frequently seen along-
side Tejaprabhā Buddha in Tangut Xixia representations, which further proves
that such conventions originated in China, since the Tangut sources derive
from China. There appears to have been some innovation in Japan in light of
the Kuyōtō zuzō 九曜等図像 (tz 7: 738) produced in 1164 and stored at Kanchiin
観智院 of Tōji in Kyoto, which includes a line drawing of Tejaprabhā as a
Tathāgata aflame, standing atop two lotuses, and holding a bowl and monk’s
staff, as well as drawings of the planetary icons. This standing representation
is unknown among Chinese sources, but appears to be based on depictions
of Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来 , or Bhaiṣajyaguru (Su 2011, 114–17). The Iranian-
Mesopotamian icons, minus Ziqi and Yuebei, are also seen in Japanese hoshi
mandara 星曼荼羅 (star mandalas), which are unique to Japan (ten Groten-
huis 1999, 116–18; Takeda 1995; Ujiro 2012).
The Iranian-Mesopotamian planetary icons and the magical rituals associated
with them possess remarkable parallels to those described in the thirteenth-
century Latin translation of the Ghāyat al-Ḥakīm titled the Picatrix, demonstrat-
ing that a significant transmission of Near Eastern astral magic occurred via Ira-
nian intermediaries during the late Tang dynasty (Kotyk 2017b). This magic, or
at least part of it, was subsequently transmitted to Japan through Buddhist inter-
mediaries. I should iterate here that these icons, although having been modified
via their Iranian transmission, originally stemmed from the earlier Greco-
Egyptian tradition of astral magic. The visual representation and magic of Sat-
urn, for example, indicate that this planetary deity in East Asia can actually be
traced back to the Hellenistic Kronos, rather than the Indian Śanaiścara. The
most prominent example of an astral-magical text in Japan incorporating these
Iranian elements is the Kuyō hiryaku 九曜秘暦. This work is comprised of text
explaining the astrological features of each day of the seven-day week, while pro-
viding the accompanying mantras for each planet, and illustrations of the plan-
etary deities in the Iranian-Mesopotamian fashion (see appended plates).11 The
prescribed ritual therein for Saturn is relatively long. It includes casting a metal
image of a Brahmin with a bent back, and making specific black-colored offer-
ings to it (tz 7: 772a8-b3). Very similar rituals for Saturn are also found in the
Qiyao rangzai jue and one Daoist work (Kotyk 2017a, 53–55). The appearance
of this ritual in both Buddhist and Daoist sources seems to indicate that the cult
of Saturn was particularly prominent during the late Tang, which was likely a
result of the planet not only being the foremost malefic planet in classical horo-
scopy, but also the planet governing longevity and old age, even in the practice
of magic.12 On the latter point, it is unsurprising that some Daoists were partic-
ularly favorable toward Saturn, given their interest in longevity (see dz 289, 5:
30b18c-2).
11. The material of the work seems to draw upon late Tang Buddhist texts. It is uncertain if
the text was originally from China or compiled in Japan. The manuscript copied by Sōkan 僧観
in 1125 was based on an earlier copy from 940; thus, it was composed sometime before 940. For
relevant studies, see Nakano (1969) and Manabe (1982).
12. The Picatrix (Greer and Warnock 2010–2011, 154) states, “Ask Saturn in petitions con-
cerning old age or generous men …” The Latin (Pingree 1976, 112) reads, “Queris enim a Sat-
urno in peticionibus a senibus petendis vel hominibus generosis …”
figure 4. Saturn in Genzu mandara. figure 5. Libra in Genzu mandara.
This prominence of the cult of Saturn during the ninth century perhaps
explains why the Iranian-Mesopotamian icon of Saturn 土曜 appears in the
Genzu mandara 現図曼荼羅 (tz 1: 789; Somekawa 2013, 211), rather than the
original Indian depiction found in the Taizō zuzō 胎蔵図象 and Taizō kuzuyō
胎蔵旧図様 (tz 2: 278, 543). It is uncertain whether it was in China or Japan that
the Iranian icon of Saturn was inserted into the mandala. Interestingly, the icon of
Libra 秤宮 appears to be the Iranian-Mesopotamian icon of Saturn holding a scale
(tz 1: 783). Although Libra is ruled by Venus, the exaltation of Saturn is in Libra.
The influence of the Iranian transmission of astrology within East Asian Bud-
dhism is further demonstrated by name of the zodiac sign of Aries in the Genzu
mandara (Somekawa 2013, 183): “palace of the white ram” (hakuyō kū 白羊宮).
The Taizō zuzō and Taizō kuzuyō (tz 2: 284, 559) simply label Aries as “palace of
the ram” (yō kū 羊宮). The Duli yusi jing translated Aries as “palace of the white
ram,” which can be inferred from this term appearing in its extant versified ver-
sion, the Xitian yusi jing 西天聿斯経 (skqs 809: 436a16).
Innovation on the part of Japanese Buddhists with respect to the interpreta-
tion of the planetary icons is evident. The Iranian-Mesopotamian, as well as the
zoomorphic icons (see appended plates below),13 were authenticated through

creative interpetations of their features. The Byakuhō kushō 白宝口抄 by
Ryōson 亮尊, for instance, provides the following interpretation of the Iranian-
Mesopotamian icon of Mercury:
Mercury is active in the northern direction. It is the essence of water. Its body
completely manifests afflictions. Afflictions are like water. This manifests crav-
ing. Its form truly resembles water. Therefore, it is said that the deity’s form
is like that of a black snake. A snake is the essence of water. In the northern
direction, the former five consciousnesses are active, which thus expresses
[the icon’s] wearing of a monkey hat, since the monkey is a distracted animal.
Holding paper and brush has the meaning of recording the maturation of
afflictions, and the fruit of buddhahood from merit. (tz 7: 307a23–27)
The origin of the zoomorphic representation of Mercury as a snake is uncer-
tain, but Mercury as a scribe is clearly derived from the Mesopotamian associa-
tion of the planet with Nabū, the god of scribes, which in turn led to the Greeks
associating the planet with Hermes. The association with the monkey here is
most likely derived from the Hellenistic association between Hermes and Thoth,
the sacred animal of the latter being the baboon (Kotyk 2017b, 51). As to the ori-
gin of this unique interpretation of the icons of Mercury in the Byakuhō kushō,
the grammar and vocabulary usage of the cited passage are highly suggestive
of a Japanese composition.14 This points to further Japanese development of the
astral magic received from China. We should also note here that it is unlikely that
Buddhists in East Asia understood the real origin of these icons, apart from their
transmission from the nebulous western regions. That they were interpreted for
use within Buddhist practice demonstrates the ease in which even non-Indian
materials could be incorporated into Mikkyō.
In addition to the planetary deities, the twenty-eight nakṣatras are also rep-
resented in anthropomorphic forms in Japan. The deification of the nakṣatras
can be traced back to ancient Buddhism in India. In the Taizō zuzō and Taizō
kuzuyō, they are uniformly depicted in the Indian fashion as seated men, with
minor variations of hand gestures and held objects (tz 2: 280–83, 545–61). Their
function within this context is as mandala deities. However, motifs stemming
from the Iranian transmission of astral magic into China are apparent among
13. The zoomorphic icons are an alternate set of planetary icons described in the Qiyao rang-
zai jue and depicted in the Kuyō hiryaku. See Kotyk (2017b, 43–46). See appended plates 10–12
below.
14. For example, using xianran 顯然 as a transitive verb is unusual in Chinese. Also, xing-
xiang 行相, qian wu shi 前五識, and yishu 異熟 are terms derived from Yogācāra texts in Chinese
translation. Neither the Qiyao rangzai jue, nor any other Chinese astrological work of the ninth
century, display such influences from the Yogācāra lexicon, indicating that this interpretation of
the icon is Japanese in origin.
figure 6. Nü/Śravaṇa (Osaka).
Image from Wikimedia Com-
mons. Creative Commons Attri- figure 7. Nü/Śravaṇa
bution-ShareAlike License. https:// (Nijū-hachi suku zuzō).
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki
/File: 五星二十八宿神形图.jpg.
figure 8. Niu/Abhijit. figure 9. Wei/Mūla.

figure 10. Qi / Pūrvāṣāḍhā. figure 11. Shi / Pūrvabhādrapadā.
figure 12. Liu / Aślesā.

figure 13. Makara (tz 2: 286).
the depictions of the nakṣatras in a Japanese document titled Nijū-hachi suku

zuzō 二十八宿図像 (Icons of the twenty-eight lunar stations) from Kanchiin of
Tōji (tz 7: 775–800).15 These icons appear in almost identical forms in the “Paint-
ing of the Deities Forms of the Five Planets and Twenty-Eight Lunar Stations”
五星二十八宿神形図, presently in the possession of the Osaka City Museum of
Fine Arts.16 As an example, the icons of Nü 女星神 correspond to the nakṣatra
Śravaṇa (see figures 6 and 7). The production of this painting, which was orig-
inally owned by the Song court, is attributed to Liang Lingzan 梁令瓚 (fl. 727).
Later, this painting was attributed to the even earlier painter Zhang Sengyou
張僧繇, who flourished between 502 and 519 (Jin 1984, 12–13, 50). However, I
have shown that such attributions are problematic from a chronological per-
spective (Kotyk 2017b, 66–68). These icons and the content of much of their
accompanying inscriptions are furthermore both clearly of an Iranian origin.
They therefore would date from the early ninth century at the earliest.
15. The original drawings might have been brought to Japan by Jōgyō 常暁 (d. 867) in 839. A
document titled Nijū-hachi suku zō 二十八宿像 appears in his catalog of items from China. See t
2163, 55: 1070c10.
16. This painting, extant only as a single fascicle, includes the five planets, but only twelve
nakṣatra icons, with the other icons having been included in another fascicle. The inscriptions
for the apparently lost icons are preserved in the Qing-era Midian zhulin 秘殿珠林 (skqs 823:
677–81). The Nijū-hachi suku zuzō includes fourteen of the twenty-eight icons, but no inscrip-
tions.
What is the original motif behind this goat-headed figure? These icons appear
to be derived, at least in part, from zodiacal lore. This can be inferred based on
the fact that the lunar station Nü in Chinese astronomy is subsumed under the
zodiac sign Capricorn (see table 1 below). Similarly, the icon of Niu 牛 (Abhijit)
also bears horns (figure 8), and this lunar station is also under Capricorn. This
points to a Hellenistic, rather than Indian, motif, since Capricorn in India was
understood as a makara and depicted as a fish-like creature (figure 13). Simi-
larly, Wei 尾 (Mūla), depicted as an archer (figure 9), and Qi 箕 (Pūrvāṣāḍhā),
depicted as a man mounted on a horse (figure 10), are subsumed under Sagitar-
rius. Another obvious example is Shi 室 (Pūrvabhādrapadā), depicted as a man
atop two fish (figure 11), which is subsumed under Pisces. The icon of Liu 柳
(Āśleṣā), however, is a man atop a dragon (figure 12), which reflects the Indian
association of Āśleṣā with Nāgas. Incorporation of Indian elements would be
normal within an Iranian context. The Japanese document at hand clearly stems
from an Iranian tradition, most likely having been introduced into East Asia
during the ninth century.
The various astral deities are also discussed in various medieval Mikkyō com-
pendiums. For instance, the Gyōrin shō (t 2409; Summary of the forest of prac-
tices), a compendium of Buddhist rituals and lore compiled in 1154 by Jōnen (d.u.)
of Mount Hiei, cites works that describe the planetary deities, including a certain
non-extant *Brahmadeva-saptagraha-sūtra 梵天七曜経 that describes a unique
set of planetary icons in an Iranian fashion similar to those of the Bonten kara
zu (t 2409, 76: 464b23–65a27). The mantras of the Qiyao rangzai jue are also
cited in the Gyōrin shō (t 2409, 76: 226a9–11). The Dainichi kyō sho en’ō shō
大日経疏演奥鈔, notes on the commentary of the Mahāvairocana-sūtra by Gōhō
杲宝 (1306–1362), also cites the Qiyao rangzai jue, along with the Kuyō hiyraku
and Xiuyao jing, in a discussion of the qualities of the planets and the astrologi-
cal significances of their movements throughout the twelve zodiac signs (t 2216,
59: 59a10–16). These discussions demonstrate the continued firm belief in astrol-
ogy among Mikkyō specialists well into the medieval period.
Buddhist astral magic also incorporated elements derived from Daoist
texts, which to some extent was a result of interactions with Onmyōdō 陰陽道
(Yamashita 1996, 298). A primary characteristic of the Daoist material is its
main focus on the seven stars of the Big Dipper, which are believed to gov-
ern human longevity. The incorporation of such beliefs into Buddhist practice
already occurred in the late Tang, which is clear from the diagram and text in
the Foshuo beidou qixing yanming jing 仏説北斗七星延命経 (t 1307, 21: 425b5–
c28). In this work, the seven stars are associated with the twelve earthly branches
(di zhi 地支). The star presiding over an individual’s life is determined by the
earthly branch of the sexagenary cycle for the year when they were born. The
Ono rokuchō 小野六帖, by the Shingon monk Ningai 仁海 (951–1046), prescribes
this same model in its explanation of a “Ritual for Offering to the Primordial
Star” (Ganjinku sahō 元辰供作法) under the section detailing rituals for aster-
isms (t 2473, 78: 98a2–3) titled “Private Remarks on Sukuyō” (sukuyō shiki 宿曜
私記). Ningai also cites the Bonten kara zu and Qiyao rangzai jue. The magic with
which he was familiar therefore clearly consisted of Chinese, Indian, and Iranian
elements, which by his time had become fully digested into the framework of
Mikkyō practice. The mature system of Mikkyō astral magic was called Hokuto hō
北斗法 (“Ritual of the Northern Dipper”), which, despite the name, also incor-
porates the planetary, zodiacal, and nakṣatra deities. Hayami (1976, 97) suggests
that features of astral magic identifiable with Onmyōdō are apparent in the tenth
century, but that during the eleventh century the Hokuto hō was systematized as
a specifically Mikkyō practice.
In light of the widespread belief in astral deities and astrology in Japan during
the Nara and early Heian periods, it is unsurprising that such interests would
lead to the formation of a community of professional astrologers capable of
practicing horoscopy, arguably the most complex system of astrology.
History of the Sukuyōdō
Although by the end of the ninth century Japan possessed the necessary texts
to cast horoscopes, including Cao Shiwei’s Futian li, it appears that the country
still lacked professional astrologers. Horoscopy requires not only basic astro-
nomical knowledge in order to produce a horoscope, but also familiarity with
astrological doctrines in order to interpret it and make predictions. The role of
Buddhism in the transmission of such knowledge foreshadowed the emergence
of later astrologer-monks, the Sukuyōshi 宿曜師. The “Mikkyō Astrology” dis-
cussed above must be considered separate from the horoscopy practiced by the
Sukuyōshi, since horoscopy was the exclusive art of the Sukuyōshi.
The first calendrical specialist with the Futian li in Japan was the Tendai
monk Nichien 日延 (d.u.). Nichien was a disciple of the Tendai monk Ninkan
仁観 (d. 934), who also had a background in calendrical science (Yamashita
1990, 488–89). Sometime around the mid-tenth century, the Onmyōji Kamo no
Yasunori 賀茂保憲 (917–977) voiced his concerns that the Senmyō reki 宣明暦
state calendar (brought to Japan in 859 and adopted from 862) had been in use
for well over a century and that a new calendar probably had been adopted
on the mainland. He recommended that Nichien be sent to acquire and study
a new calendar. Nichien departed in 953. He arrived in the state of Wuyue
吳越 where he studied a version of the Futian li and ephemerides (licheng 立成),
which he brought back in 957.17 The Futian li was used by the Sukuyōshi through
the Heian and Kamakura periods (Momo 1969, 400–408).
Although Nichien played such a crucial role in transmitting the necessary
knowledge to practice horoscopy, according to the encyclopedic early Kama-
kura-era Nichū reki 二中暦 (unknown author), Nichien is listed as a Rokumeishi
禄命師 (master of fortune telling), rather than as a Sukuyōshi (under the ichi
nōreki 一能暦 heading; fasc. 13, 56). The first Sukuyōshi listed in the Nichū reki
is Hōzō 法蔵 (905–969). In the year 961, Hōzō engaged in a debate with the
Onmyōji Kamo no Yasunori over the asterism believed to constitute the natal
asterism (honmyō suku 本命宿) of Murakami Tennō (926–967). This debate also
dealt with the day when the appropriate ritual was to be executed (honmyō jitsu
本命日). As Yamashita points out (1990, 492), the Ono ruihi shō 小野類秘鈔 (sz
36: 85–86) by Kanshin 寬信 (1084–1153) and the Byakuhō kushō (tz 7: 297b1–c4,
334b8–35a26) cite the written reports by Hōzō and Kamo no Yasunori. We can
gain a clear understanding of their respective positions as follows.
Murakami Tennō was born on the second day (tei gai 丁亥) of the sixth lunar
month in year four of the reign era Enchō 延長 (926). In the sexagenary cycle,
this year landed on hei jutsu 丙戌. Kamo no Yasunori proposed that hei jutsu be
regarded as the day when the ritual was to be executed. As to the natal asterism,
he referred to the aforementioned table of the Xiuyao jing, in which the twenty-
seven nakṣatras are assigned to each day of the lunar calendar. In this case, 6/2
corresponds to Āśleṣā 柳 (Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 1: 13–15). Hōzō, however, dis-
agreed with both points. He proposed that the ritual was to be executed on the
actual day of birth according to the sexagenary cycle (tei gai) and that the natal
asterism be determined based upon the nakṣatra in which the Moon was actu-
ally lodged at the time of birth. In the end, a third party, Yoshino Nichizō 吉野
日蔵 (d.u.), presented a judgment on the matter in three fascicles, in which the
natal asterism would be determined by Hōzō’s explanation, while the day of the
ritual would be determined by Kamo no Yasunori’s explanation. This is recorded
in the Asaba shō (tz 9: 457b15–19) and Gyōrin shō (t 2409, 76: 458c8–11).
There are two important things to note about this debate. First, in this case,
Hōzō is referring to Chinese lunar stations in practice, but the astrological lore
stems from the Indian nakṣatras. Second, Hōzō is disregarding the table in the
revised version of the Xiuyao jing and instead relying on more accurate methods
of calculating the true position of the Moon. Amoghavajra’s team produced this
table likely as a means of facilitating Chinese use of the Indian calendar without
17. Nichien’s trip to China is detailed in a document entitled Daizaifu jinja bunsho 大宰府神社
文書, dated to around 1053. It was rediscovered by Takeuchi Rizō (1907–1997) in 1954 at Daizaifu
Jinja 大宰府神社 in Kyushu. Nichien also carried with him works of the Tiantai school, which
had been lost in China. See Takeuchi (1955); Momo (1969). For details on the Tiantai texts
carried by Nichien see Momo (1968); Brose (2006, 53–56).
having to employ calculations or redesigning Chinese observational astronomy

to accommodate the nakṣatra parameters, but with the result that the Moon only
nominally “lodges” in the assigned nakṣatras. Kūkai appears to have only known
Amoghavajra’s system. Experts in calendrical science and astronomy, however,
would have noticed the discrepancies between observed positions and the table.
Hōzō did not necessarily face any serious objections to his decision to employ
a scientific approach, since the first version of the Xiuyao jing from 759 states
that “the corresponding nakṣatra is always the one in which the Moon is lodged”
(Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 2: 7; Yamashita 1990, 494). This early preference in the
Sukuyōdō tradition for accurate calculations is still apparent in a later horoscope
(see below).
Kanshin states, “I am unaware of the basis [of Hōzō’s conclusion]. This was
not received from a teacher’s instruction, being something he reached via his
unique views” (sz 36: 85b6–7). This points to the early innovation of Sukuyōdō
and its divergence from mainstream Mikkyō. The latter it seems regarded the
Xiuyao jing as not only a canonical text, but also one that was originally taught
by Mahāvairocana (sz 36: 85b15–86a2).
Hōzō being traditionally identified as the first Sukuyōshi is also historically
reasonable, given that one of the first references to Sukuyōdō itself is found in
Hōzō’s report quoted in the Ono ruihi shō (sz 36: 86a17). The appended suffix
of -dō 道 is likely in emulation of the then long-established Onmyōdō. At this
point, Sukuyōdō does not yet appear to exist as an identifiable lineage or com-
munity. However, shortly after Hōzō’s time, we see reference to “Sukuyō” in the
Genji monogatari, which suggests that Sukuyōdō emerged as an identifiable
community between Hōzō’s death in 969 and the first or second decade of the
following century. The first references to Sukuyōdō and Sukuyōshi within the
journals of aristocrats date to the early to mid-eleventh century (Toda 2007, 46).
Yamashita (1990, 508) also points out that Sukuyōshi, primarily hailing from
Kōfukuji 興福寺, became especially active among the aristocracy starting in
the late tenth century. Sukuyōshi also officially participated in state manage-
ment of the calendar between 995–1038. The monk Ninsō was likely the earliest
Sukuyōshi to contribute to state calendar production starting in 995 (Takada
1992, 42). After 1038, Sukuyōshi continued to debate with calendrical experts
at court until the thirteenth century, in particular with respect to predicting
eclipses (Yamashita 1990, 509–11; Yuasa 2007). Akazawa (2007, 1017) argues
that there existed a tendency to exclude Sukuyōshi in calendar production
and astronomy at court that was a result of said sciences becoming the profes-
sional domain of the households Kamo and Abe, which were associated with
Onmyōdō.
The Insei (1086–1185) and Kamakura (1185–1333) periods were a time of great
activity for Sukuyōdō, although, as Akazawa (2007, 1003) infers based on the
number of relevant figures in extant documents, it appears that there still existed
a substantially greater number of Onmyōji than Sukuyōshi. Toda (2006, 29–32)
notes that during the later years of the Insei period, Sukuyōdō started placing
particular emphasis on apotropaic rituals as a means of countering astrologi-
cally prognosticated calamities in addition to paying more attention to predic-
tions concerning death specifically. Two primary lineages of Sukuyōdō, Chin-ryū
珍流 (variant: 珎) and San-ryū 算流, emerged and remained active through the
Kamakura period (Yamashita 1990, 502–503). These lineages stem from two
prominent Sukuyōshi who were active during the Insei period, Chinga 珍賀 (b.
1129) and Kyōsan 慶算. Chinga was the son of Chinya 珍也 (b. 1083), a Sukuyōshi
of Hōryūji 法隆寺 (Yano 2013, 166). Chinga, however, was based out of Kyoto,
where he built the Hokutokōrin-in 北斗降臨院 at Kiyomizudera 清水寺 some-
time before the year 1165 (Kanechiku 1999, 37). Kyōsan was from Onjōji 園城寺
and was an innovator of Sukuyō rituals. The two men knew each other. Chinga
produced an astrology report for Gotoba Tennō 後鳥羽天皇 (r. 1183–1198), but
his errors were later corrected by Kyōsan (Toda 2006, 32–33, 36–37). The pres-
ence of these astrologers at the highest level of Japanese society indicates the
appeal of horoscopy at the time.
An important specimen from the Insei period related to Sukuyōdō, preserved
in the depository of Kōzanji 高山寺 in Kyoto, is the Sukuyō senmon shō 宿曜
占文抄. This twenty-seven page document in its extant form is a collection of
notes recopied in 1188 by the Sukuyōshi Shinsan 深算 (Ujiro 2012, 96). This doc-
ument contains astrological lore drawing upon Buddhist scriptures in addition
to often baffling commentary regarding how to reconcile the different lunar and
solar calendrical systems prescribed in various Buddhist and non-Buddhist texts
(the latter includes the Duli yusi jing). This text illustrates that Sukuyōdō in this
period had not attempted to produce any systemized doxography or orthodox
canon of texts, which stands in contrast to the established Buddhist schools. This
perhaps was a result of Sukuyōshi being a secondary profession that was carried
out alongside simultaneous affiliation with established Buddhist schools.
During the Kamakura period, some Sukuyōshi were active in Kamakura. One
of the well-documented Sukuyōshi of this period was Chin’yo 珍誉 (b. 1167), who
was also a waka 和歌 poet. Some of his waka poems are included in the Chin’yo
hōin waka 珍誉法印和歌 (Z 16, no. 1: 348–50), appended to which is Chin’yo’s
lineage. Chin’yo’s predecessors here include his father Chin’yō 珍耀 (1148–1184)
and his grandfather Chinga, the latter specified as having descended from Chin’ya.
Chin’yo served the Kamakura bakufu as a Sukuyōshi between the years 1223–
1246 following the Jōkyū War in 1221, when he was called upon to perform rit-
uals directed at the seven planets (Kanechiku 1999, 38–39). He was also skilled
enough in astronomy to attempt to predict a solar eclipse in the year 1225 (Yuasa
2007, 56). Toda (2007, 50) points out that accounts in the Azuma kagami concern-
ing rituals related to astral anomalies increase following the Jōkyū War. Chin’yo’s
service as a ritualist specializing in astral magic during these two decades demon-
strates that the belief in the power of astral deities stemming from earlier centu-
ries remained consistent and strong among Japanese elites.
As to the demise of Sukuyōdō, Yamashita (1990, 519–20) points out that
the final symbolic blow to the tradition was when the aforementioned Hokuto-
kōrin-in burned down in 1417 (zh 3: 109a9–10). It appears that Sukuyōdō as an
identifiable community vanished around this time after having existed since the
late tenth century.
Sukuyōdō Horoscopy
We can gain a glimpse into early Sukuyōdō horoscopy by looking at the notes
appended in 999 by a Japanese hand to the Qiyao rangzai jue (t 1308, 21: 452a29–
b9). The first comment unclearly cites the title of a text, stating that the Moon 月
(a scribal error for the graphically similar Sun 日) is fixed at the third degree
of Kui 奎 (here the Chinese lunar station, not the nakṣatra Revatī) at the ver-
nal equinox in the second lunar month. This is in reference to the solar table of
the Qiyao rangzai jue (450c5–51a11). It further states that Aries (here the term is
the hakuyō kū, or “white ram,” from the Duli yusi jing) is defined from the ver-
nal equinox, although there was now a discrepancy of more than three Chinese
degrees and that a new table should be made. This is explained by the fact that
a total of 275 years had elapsed between 724 (when the solar table of the Qiyao
rangzai jue is stated to have been produced) and 999. By the year 999, the Sun
had retreated about 3.84 degrees (3.89 Chinese degrees) due to axial precession.
The fact that an update was necessary to keep the zodiac of Aries in alignment
with the vernal equinox indicates use of a tropical, rather than sidereal, zodiac.18
Elsewhere, in the Byakuhō kushō, the Duli yusi jing is also said to define the first
month from Pisces (tz 7: 315a20), which in the said solar table would correspond
exactly thirty days prior to the seventeenth degree of Wei 危 (the first day of the
solar term of Yushui 雨水).19 The zodiac here is clearly aligned with the solar
terms, which themselves are aligned with the equinoxes and solstices. The use
of a tropical zodiac is highly significant because Indian astrology, and even the
18. The twelve zodiac signs were originally formulated in Mesopotamia relative to stars,
including those constellations from which they are named. This is called a sidereal zodiac. The
tropical zodiac, which was in use from late antiquity, defines the zodiac signs in relation to the
vernal equinox. The tropical model became standard in Arab and European traditions. Although
Indian astronomers absorbed much Hellenistic astronomy, Indians largely continued using the
sidereal (nirayaṇa) zodiac, rather than adopting the tropical zodiac (sāyana). See Gansten
(2010, 284) and Evans (1998, 39).
19. The Sukuyō senmon shō also provides one definition of several, in which the first month is
defined from Pisces (see fifth page of document, reproduced in Ujiro 2012, 114).
11月 12 月 1月 2月 3月 4月
Capricorn Aquarius Pisces Aries Taurus Gemini
冬至小寒大寒立春雨水驚蟄春分清明穀雨立夏小滿芒種
Winter Vernal
日
Solstice Equinox
1 斗9 牛1 女8 危2 危17 室15 奎3 婁1 胃3 昴4 畢8 參6
2 斗10 牛2 女9 危3 室1 室16 奎4 婁2 胃4 昴5 畢9 參7
3 斗11 牛3 女10 危4 室2 室17 奎5 婁3 胃5 昴6 畢10 參8
4 斗12 牛4 女11 危5 室3 壁1 奎6 婁4 胃6 昴7 畢11 參9
5 斗13 牛5 虚1 危6 室4 壁2 奎7 婁5 胃7 昴8 畢12 參10
6 斗14 牛6 虚2 危7 室5 壁3 奎8 婁6 胃8 昴9 畢13 井1
7 斗15 牛7 虚3 危8 室6 壁4 奎9 婁7 胃9 昴10 畢14 井2
8 斗16 牛8 虚4 危9 室7 壁5 奎 10 婁8 胃10 昴11 畢15 井3
9 斗17 女1 虚5 危10 室8 壁6 奎 11 婁9 胃11 畢1 畢16 井4
10 斗18 女2 虚6 危11 室9 壁7 奎 12 婁10 胃12 畢2 觜1 井5
11 斗19 女3 虚7 危12 室10 壁8 奎 13 婁11 胃13 畢3 參1 井6
12 斗20 女4 虚8 危13 室11 壁9 奎 14 婁12 胃14 畢4 參2 井7
13 斗21 女5 虚9 危14 室12 壁10 奎 15 婁13 昴1 畢5 參3 井8
14 斗22 女6 虚10 危15 室13 奎1 奎 16 胃1 昴2 畢6 參4 井9
15 斗23 女7 危1 危16 室14 奎2 奎 17 胃2 昴3 畢7 參5 井10
5月 6月 7月 8月 9月 10月
Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius
夏至小暑大暑立秋處暑白露秋分寒露霜降立冬小雪大雪
Summer Autumn
Solstice Equinox
1 井12* 井27 柳10 張4 張 19 翼16* 軫12 角8 氐1 氐16 尾6 箕4
2 井13 井28 柳11 張5 翼1 翼17 軫13 角9 氐2 房1 尾7 箕5
3 井14 井29 柳12 張6 翼2 翼18 軫14 角10 氐3 房2 尾8 箕6
4 井15 井30 柳13 張7 翼3 翼19 軫15 角11 氐4 房3 尾9 箕7
5 井16 鬼1 柳14 張8 翼4 軫1 軫16 角12 氐5 房4 尾10 箕8
6 井17 鬼2 星1 張9 翼5 軫2 軫17 角13 氐6 房5 尾11 箕9
7 井18 柳1 星2 張 10 翼6 軫3 軫18 亢1 氐7 心1 尾12 箕10
8 井19 柳2 星3 張 11 翼7 軫4 軫19 亢2 氐8 心2 尾13 斗1
9 井20 柳3 星4 張 12 翼8 軫5 角1 亢3 氐9 心3 尾14 斗2
10 井21 柳4 星5 張 13 翼9 軫6 角2 亢4 氐10 心4 尾15 斗3
11 井22 柳5 星6 張 14 翼10 軫7 角3 亢5 氐11 尾1 尾16 斗4
12 井23 柳6 星7 張 15 翼11 軫8 角4 亢6 氐12 尾2 尾17 斗5
13 井24 柳7 張1 張 16 翼12 軫9 角5 亢7 氐13 尾3 箕1 斗6
14 井25 柳8 張2 張 17 翼13 軫10 角6 亢8 氐14 尾4 箕2 斗7
15 井26 柳9 張3 張 18 翼14 軫11 角7 亢9 氐15 尾5 箕3 斗8
table 1. Lunar stations—zodiac signs—solar terms correspondences.

Qiyao rangzai jue, employ sidereal zodiacs, whereas late Hellenistic astrologers,
most notably Ptolemy, employed a tropical zodiac. In the case of horoscopy in
East Asia, it appears that the transmission of the Duli yusi jing was accompanied
by a new zodiacal system, in which the zodiac signs were primarily defined by
the equinoxes.
One problem that East Asian astrologers had to address was that Chinese
observational astronomy was based on the Chinese system of twenty-eight
lunar stations. These lunar stations are of varying lengths and traditionally add
up to 365.25 degrees. The zodiac signs are uniformly comprised of 30 degrees
each, totaling 360 degrees. It appears that when Li Miqian introduced horos-
copy between 795 and 805, he also developed a system to reconcile these two sys-
tems by dividing the twenty-eight Chinese lunar stations into twelve divisions.
Interestingly, these twelve divisions were made exactly equal by assigning thirty
solar days (not civil days) to each, based, it seems, on the aforementioned table
of solar terms preserved in the Qiyao rangzai jue. The Qiyao rangzai jue states
that this table was calculated in year 12 of Kaiyuan (724), but after eighty-three
years it was off by one degree. This would correspond to the year 806, which is
incidentally around the year when Cao Shiwei produced additional tables for
Rāhu and Ketu (Kotyk 2017a, 42). It is known that Cao Shiwei studied under
Li Miqian, so the conclusion we can draw here is that Li Miqian’s team adapted
earlier material for use in defining the zodiac signs in China.
The exact parameters for the zodiac signs devised for use with the Duli yusi
jing can be inferred based on the above details (see table 1). The year 724 is fur-
thermore significant because at this time the court astronomer and monk Yixing
was active in the capital. However, his calendar, the Dayan li 大衍暦, a work in
progress when he died in 727, gives slightly different parameters that include
fractions. The table of solar terms of the Qiyao rangzai jue, however, equals 360
degrees, which is an occidental parameter, and one that was used in the Nava-
graha-karaṇa (Xin Tang shu 3: 692). The original creator of the original solar
table itself, therefore, might have been a figure such as Gautama Siddhārtha.
Many originally Hellenistic elements are evident within East Asian horos-
copy. Horoscopy was transmitted to China through Iranian, rather than Indian,
intermediaries, which explains why the horoscopy of Sukuyōdō displays some
Indo-Iranian features, such as the use of Rāhu and Ketu. Japanese Buddhist
astrologers were effectively practicing a system of horoscopy whose roots are
in large part traced back to Alexandria, although even earlier elements, such
as Babylonian goal-years, are found in the Japanese tradition. Babylonian goal-
years are recurring planetary periodicities or cycles of movement from which
accurate predictions of future movements can be made. Evans (1998, 315) states,
“All the known goal-year texts are from the Seleucid period. Among the oldest
is a text for 81 se (231/230 bce).” He also notes, “Although the oldest surviving
examples happen to be from the third century, similar texts were probably pro-
duced much earlier.” These parameters are expressly defined and furthermore
employed in the construction of the ephemerides of the Qiyao rangzai jue
(Kotyk 2017a, 45–47). In short, the first introduction of goal-years into Japan
can be traced to Shūei, who in 865 returned with this text. These ephemerides,
however, only appear to have been used by Sukuyōshi starting in the late tenth
century.
As a key specimen of the horoscopy of Sukuyōdō, we might examine the
Sukuyō unmei kanroku 宿曜運命勘録. This document is a horoscope and accom-
panying interpretation for a man born on 15 January 1113 (Yano 2013, 192). At the
time it was produced, he was forty-one years old, so the document at hand can
be dated to around the year 1152. Its astrological doctrines can be compared with
those of another Japanese horoscope, the Sukuyō go unroku 宿曜御運録, which
was produced around the year 1312 for an individual born in 1268 who at the
time was forty-four or forty-five years old.
The horoscope of 1113 states that 165,428 days have elapsed since the epoch
of the calendar that was used in the calculations, which indicates a start date of
around 660. The year 660 is the epoch of the Futian li (Momo 1969, 404–406).
Similarly, for the year 1268, the Sukuyō go unroku (Momo 1990, 142) states that
222,245 days have elapsed (equaling 608.89 modern years of 365 days), giving us
the starting year of 660. The planetary positions of the Sukuyō unmei kanroku
are listed by the degrees of Chinese lunar stations and displayed on a circular
table, which I have converted into a more easily readable format using modern
astrological symbols (see figure 14).
The inner circle shows the twelve earthly branches. In this case, they repre-
sent the twelve Jupiter stations, which are used as functional equivalents for the
twelve zodiac signs. The next circle shows the twelve zodiac signs together with
their respective planetary rulers. The next circle shows the positions of the nine
planets, which are placed relative to the lunar stations (presented in the next
circle) in which they are positioned. East Asian astronomy is based on Chinese
lunar stations, which is why the twelve zodiac signs became twelve divisions of
lunar stations (the exact parameters are shown in table 1 above). The outermost
circle shows the twelve places, and whether they are considered auspicious, as
well as the twelve earthly branches as directional markers (bō 卯 indicates east).
The twelve places (Greek: τόποι; Latin: loci) are static demarcations of the eclip-
tic through which the stars and planets pass. The zodiac signs and planets pres-
ent in these places indicate things relevant to the themes of each place.
For ease of reference, I have indicated the twelve places with Roman numer-
als in the translated table below, but it should be noted that the Chinese names
of these places are also significant. This circular table is similar to that found in
the Qiyao rangzai jue (t 1308, 21: 451b05), but the zodiac signs as they align with
figure 14. Sukuyō unmei kanroku horoscope. Planets: Sun ☉, Moon ☽, Mars ♂, Mercury ☿,
Jupiter ♃, Venus ♀, Saturn ♄, Rahu ☊, Lilith (Ketu) ⚸.* Zodiacs: Aries ♈, Taurus ♉, Gemini ♊,
Cancer ♋, Leo ♌, Virgo ♍, Libra ♎, Scorpio ♏, Sagittarius ♐, Capricorn ♑, Aquarius ♒,
Pisces ♓. Earthly branches: shi 子, gai 亥, jutsu 戌, yū 酉, shin 申, bi 未, go 午, shi 巳, shin 辰, bō 卯,
in 寅, chū 丑.
* Lilith in astrology is the lunar apogee. In East Asian Buddhist astrology, Ketu was redefined as
the lunar apogee. See Yano (1986, 31); Isahaya and Lin (2017, 167); Kotyk (2017a, 47–48).
the lunar stations differ, as do the names of the zodiac signs and twelve places.
Itō Gikyō noted that the Chinese renderings of the place names in the Qiyao
rangzai jue are semantically closer to the Iranian equivalents compared to the
western or Latin names available to him (Itō 1980, 224).20 In light of the Iranian
origin of horoscopy in East Asia, it is likely that the terms of the 1113 horoscope
at hand also derive from an Iranian source. The names of the twelve places in
the 1113 horoscope: 1. “Lifespan” 壽命位; 2. “Wealth” 財庫位; 3. “Brothers” 兄弟位;
4. “Estate” 田宅位; 5. “Children” 男女位; 6. “Slaves” 奴僕位; 7. “Marriage” 夫妻位;
8. “Illness” 疾病位; 9. “Travel” 遷移位; 10. “Prosperity” (or “Career”) 官祿位; 11.
“Fortune” 福德位; and 12. “Disaster” 禍害位. These themes are largely consistent
with the doctrines of Hellenistic astrology.
The exact numerical values of planetary positions are not indicated in the
chart itself. These are listed separately. They use fractions and are, therefore, more
precise than the ephemerides provided in the Qiyao rangzai jue, which indicates
that Sukuyōshi employed more precise calculation methods rather than merely
relying on ephemerides. The position of the Moon is furthermore not derived
from the aforementioned table of the Xiuyao jing. This brings to mind Hōzō,
who insisted on a more precise method of calculating the position of the Moon,
a convention that evidently became standard in Sukuyōdō.
The scientific value of this horoscope has been pointed out in the past
(Nakayama 1969, 60). What interests us at present is that it was produced with
astral magic in mind. Following the planetary positions, the significant features
of the chart are listed, to which “prayers and offerings should be constantly
made” (Z 31, no. 1: 430b5). Horoscopy in this context was a means of determining
the optimal astral deities to which rituals would be directed. These key features
are listed in the document as follows:
- Natal star: Alioth 本命星廉貞星. The man was born in a shin or tatsu 辰 year,
which is associated with the star Renshin 廉貞 in the Big Dipper constellation
(that is, Alioth).21
- Natal planet: Mercury 本命曜水曜. The man was born on a Wednesday, over
which the planet Mercury presides.
- Natal sexagenary [deity]: deity of Jinshin 本命辰壬辰神. The deity presiding
over the sexagenary year of birth. In this case, that of Jinshin 壬辰 (29th of 60 in
the cycle).
20. Itō perhaps drew upon the work of MacKenzie (1964, 526), who lists the names of the
twelve places in Middle Persian with the corresponding Latin names. The Middle Persian terms
are known from the Bundahišn, which is primarily a cosmography based on Zoroastrian scrip-
tures.
21. This is the Daoist convention discussed earlier, which is outlined in the Ono rokuchō by
Ningai (t 2473, 78: 98a2–3) and defined in a Chinese work (t 1307, 21: 425c20–21).
- Natal nakṣatra: Mūla nakṣatra 本命宿尾宿. The position of the Moon at birth
was 4.93 degrees of the lunar station Wei 尾, but for astrological purposes, this
refers in practice lore-wise to the nakṣatra of Mūla.
- Natal zodiac sign: Scorpio 本命宮蝎虫. The zodiac sign rising at the eastern
horizon at birth (that is, the ascendant), and occupying the first place. The
1268 horoscope, however, defines the “natal zodiac sign” based on the sign in
which the Moon was present, which perhaps indicates that such definitions
were variable.
- Natal presiding zodiac sign: Sagittarius 本主宮人馬宮. The zodiac sign in
which the Moon was present at birth. This is not listed in the 1268 horoscope.
Presumably if the individual was born during the daytime, the Sun would
determine this, since the Moon determines the primary triplicity rulers (sanbō
shu 三方主) in a nocturnal horoscope (that is, for someone born at night), and
the Sun determines them in a diurnal chart.22
Triplicity (Greek: τρίγωνον; Latin: trigonum) is an early astrological conven-
tion in which the twelve zodiac signs are divided into four even sets of three
signs each. The three signs are positioned relative to one another to form an
equilateral triangle. Each set is associated with planetary rulers, which have
special significance within a chart when identified as rulers. Again, these differ
based on whether the horoscope is nocturnal or diurnal (that is, whether the
person was born during the day or night). Triplicity is a major concept in the
astrology of Dorotheus, and thus it was very likely transmitted to China via the
Duli yusi jing. The definition given by Dorotheus is found in an almost identical
form in the Daoist Lingtai jing 霊台経 (dz 288, 5), which dates to the late-Tang.23
In the present horoscope, the triplicity rulers of three of the twelve places are
identified as follows:
- Triplicity rulers of the natal place: Mars, Venus, Moon 本命位三方主: 火金月.
- Triplicity rulers of the place of prosperity: Jupiter, Sun, Saturn 榮祿位三方主:
木日土.
- Triplicity rulers of the place of fortune: Moon, Venus, Mars 福德位三方主:
月金火.
The first refers to the rulers of the ascendant. The second is derived from the
zodiac sign occupying the tenth place, which concerns prosperity (here Leo).
22. See Brennan (2017, 496). This definition is also given in the appended notes in the Qiyao
rangzai jue (t 21, 1308: 452b5–6). Also, the Daoist Lingtai jing states, “For any diurnal birth, look
to the zodiac sign in which the Sun is present to determine this. For a nocturnal birth, look to
the zodiac sign in which the Moon is present to determine this. It is then regarded as the ruler.”
dz 288, 5: 22c10–11.
23. See Pingree (1976, 161–62); dz 288, 5: 22c6–8. The zodiac signs are indicated with the
earthly branches (dizhi 地支), representing the twelve Jupiter stations as functional equivalents
for the twelve zodiac signs.
The third is derived from the zodiac sign occupying the eleventh place, which
concerns fortune (here Virgo). The underlying motive behind listing these plan-
ets is evidently to identify those governing fortune and longevity, so as to prop-
erly direct one’s prayers. This suggests a source other than material derived from
Dorotheus, whose extant work does not involve magic.
The horoscope at hand then provides some quite instructive prose regarding
the perception of astrology within a Buddhist framework. The astrologer who
composed this was evidently concerned about reconciling the idea of karma
with astrological determinism:
When people receive life, although social status and fortune are within the
scope of karmic causes, the changes of misfortune and prosperity are also
within the grasp of the nakṣatras and planets. Who of those born in the same
year are without agreeable and disagreeable [experiences]? Those born with a
favorable zodiac sign and planets have their support for fortune, while those
under an unfavorable zodiac sign and planets bring about their own catastro-
phes. However, ordinary people are unaware [of this].
(z 31, no. 1: 430b7, no. 10)
The astrologer who composed this recognizes that favorable and unfavorable
experiences in life should be attributed to past karma, but at the same time sug-
gests that the astrological circumstances of one’s birth also ought to be considered.
The rest of the document is a commentary on the horoscope at hand divided
into five sections. Section one (ten shō 天性) deals with predictions concerning
the inherent personality and fortune of the client in question. Ishida (1950)
noted that this section directly cites by name Yusi jing 聿斯経. Although direct
correspondence between the citations of the Yusi jing and Dorotheus are difficult
to identify, some of the basic ideas are found to be common. For instance, the
conjunction of Venus and Mercury:
The Yusi jing states, “Venus and Mercury in the same zodiac sign makes
one benevolent, together possessing learning and craftsmanship, producing
writings.” (z 31, no. 1: 431a13–14)
Dorotheus (Pingree 1976, 223) explains that Venus with Mercury makes a man
“adorned with culture and words, loquacious in poetry because he will compose
pleasing [and] beautiful words.”
Section two (yō fuku 榮福) of the horoscopic commentary deals primarily
with predictions related to the economic prosperity of the client in life. This
perhaps points to one of the underlying motivations behind the emergence
of astrologer-monks in Japan: forecasting financial and material success in a
person’s life, which is to say, offering counsel on mundane, rather than strictly
religious, matters.
This section cites the Xiuyao jing (Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 1: 6–7) and Sūrya-
garbha-parivarta 日蔵分 of the Mahāsaṃnipata-sūtra (t 397, 113: 278c13–14),
although it seems these are abridged notes rather than full citations, which per-
haps indicates that the astrologer wrote his interpretation using abbreviated
notes rather than the original texts. This section also cites the Duli yusi jing when
referring to the aspects of the planets. Aspect (Latin: aspectus; sight, look) is
defined as a geometrical relationship between two planets on a horoscopic chart
that is thought to signify something. The planets are conceived of as “seeing” each
other, a conception that was directly translated into Chinese.24 This relationship
is determined by the degrees or space separating the two planets. Ptolemy for-
mally recognized four types of aspect (Tetrabiblos, Book 1.13, 73–75): opposition
(180°), trine (120°), quartile (90°), and sextile (60°), but a less precise way of con-
ceiving of aspect using only “sign-based” configurations was also employed in
the Hellenistic tradition. In the horoscope at hand, trine, for instance, would be
identified when three zodiac signs of space separated two planets. The Japanese
horoscope at hand appears to employ the simpler “sign-based” system of con-
figurations. As an example of aspect in the present horoscope, the configuration
between Jupiter and Saturn is explained as follows:
Also, [the Yusi jing] states, “When Saturn and Jupiter are in trine, and [Jupiter]
is in a strong position, he will have much wealth, possessing fields, buildings
and productive enterprises. …” (z 31, no. 1: 432a1–2)
This appears to have a direct parallel in Dorotheus: “If Saturn aspects Jupiter
from trine while Jupiter is in a good place, then it indicates an abundance of
property and land and trees and buildings and mosques” (Pingree 1976, 212).
The integrity of technical horoscopic lore was clearly kept relatively intact in its
transmission eastward across Asia.
As in the Hellenistic tradition, here emphasis is placed on triplicity. Doro-
theus states, “I tell you that everything which is decided or indicated is from the
lords of the triplicities” (Pingree 1976, 162). In a similar fashion, the astrologer
here offers the following commentary:
As to fortunes, the fortunes of early, middle, and later years are all determined
via the triplicity rulers. The triplicity rulers of the place of prosperity are Jupi-
ter, the Sun, and Saturn. [The first ruler] Jupiter is in an auspicious position. …
When young, you will have been favored by a great man. It was auspicious and
bountiful. Although the second ruler, the Solar Deity, is in a powerless position,
it is opposite Jupiter. Although not overly much, your fortune is one of flour-
ishing years and ease. The third ruler, Saturn, is in an auspicious position and
behind the Sun, perhaps indicating prosperity and thriving? However, Saturn is
24. In the Lingtai jing, “aspect” as a verb is translated as jian 見. See dz 288, 5: 25c6.
in the same zodiac sign as Rāhu, and opposite to Ketu. When the time comes,
there could be hindrances. (z 31, no. 1: 432a15–b5)
Here the astrologer interprets the general level of prosperity that the client might
expect throughout life based on the planetary rulers associated with Leo, which
in the chart occupies the tenth place (the place of rank and prosperity). This
method of dividing life into three periods based on the three planets of the rul-
ing triplicity is also attested in the early Arabic tradition of astrology, which itself
was established atop the earlier Iranian tradition. The ethnically Persian ‘Umar
al-Tabarī (ca. 815), also known by his Latinized name of Omar Tiberiades, gives
the following explanation:
Look at the Lords of the triplicity of the luminary whose authority or power it
is. For you are looking at the first age from the first Lord of the triplicity of the
Sun, and [the condition] of the second age from the second Lord of the triplic-
ity of the Sun, and [the condition] of the third one from the third Lord of the
triplicity of the Sun—in the day.… Likewise look in the night from the Lords of
the triplicity of the Moon, just as you look for the Sun. (Dykes 2010, 49)
‘Umar al-Tabarī around the year 800 translated the Pahlavī translation of
Dorotheus into Arabic (Pingree 1989b, 229). ‘Umar al-Tabarī’s own work,
which relied heavily on Dorotheus, is titled Kitāb al-Mawālīd (Book on Nativ-
ities). It was translated into Latin by John of Seville as De nativitatibus in the
twelfth century. The Latin translation was often quoted by European astrologers
(Holden 2006, 111–12). It is indeed noteworthy that the influence of Dorotheus
extended to both ends of the Eurasian continent, his work influencing astrolo-
gers of numerous cultures and languages.
Section three of the horoscopic commentary discusses the forecasted lifespan
of the client. Ten methods for predicting lifespan are cited, but the astrologer
settles on suggesting that “rulers of the vital signs” (myōkū shu 命宮主) are Venus
and Mercury. This seems to refer to Gemini (ruled by Mercury) occupying the
eighth place (the “place of illness”), and Libra (ruled by Venus) occupying the
twelfth place (the “place of disaster”). These are said to both be in auspicious and
strong positions, hence a long lifespan is signaled, but this is complicated by the
position of Rāhu, which is in a trine configuration to the first place (the “place
of lifespan”). It also aspects the “Moon zodiac” (getsu kū 月宮). The significance
of the zodiac sign that houses the Moon is presumably related to the concept, as
defined in the Lingtai jing, that the “the sign in which the Moon is present is the
bodily sign (shen gong 身宮)” (dz 288, 5: 23b8–9). Greenbaum (2015, 305) notes
that in Hellenistic astrology “the Moon is associated with the body, and the Sun
with the mind, the soul and spirit.” This association between the Moon and the
body is evidently Hellenistic in origin, and moreover well preserved in the East
Asian tradition.
Section four of the horoscopic commentary deals with “various fortunes”

(sho un 諸運), which is subdivided into three subsections: disciples, slaves, and
friends. The subsection on disciples indirectly reveals that the client is a monk. It
explains that the ruler of the fifth place is an auspicious planet in a good position,
therefore the client will have many disciples. Normally, the fifth place signifies
matters related to children (danjo 男女), but as the astrologer notes, in “Dharma
households” (hōke 法家), disciples are regarded as sons.
Section five of the horoscopic commentary deals with developments in the life
of the client from the ages of forty-one to fifty-seven. The present year is noted
as jin-shin 壬申 (1152), when the client is stated to be forty-one years of age. The
“great annual zodiac ruler” is identified as Saturn. The ruler for age forty-two is
Jupiter, forty-seven is the Sun, and forty-nine is Venus. It is from this sequence
that we can infer the astrologer is using the originally Hellenistic system of annual
profections, most likely derived from Dorotheus (Pingree 1976, 245):
When a native is born, the lord of the year is the lord of the house [ascendant]
in which the native was born. Thus count from the ascendant a year for each
sign until you reach the year which you desire; the lord of that house is the lord
of the year.25
This specific planet will rule over the year and therefore be regarded as espe-
cially prominent for twelve months. It appears, however, that the astrolo-
ger erred in the assignment of the planetary ruler, since the assigned ruler
is ahead one year in the present case (age forty-one should be Jupiter, not
Saturn). Nevertheless, it is noteworthy here that the integrity of this con-
cept endured within Sukuyōdō, which itself demonstrates that this tradition
retained the doctrines of the Duli yusi jing. There was, however, an alterna-
tive way of reckoning annual rulers, which is defined in the appended notes
of the document.26 The Sukuyō go unroku in contrast uses this alternative
way of determining the planet ruling over the year of the individual in ques-
tion: the client’s forty-fifth year is associated with Jupiter, and his forty-sixth
with Rāhu (Momo 1990, 148–49). The difference in technique for determin-
ing the annual planetary ruler may reflect the lineages or even the personal
preferences of the astrologers.
25. The same definition is provided in the Xingxue dacheng 星学大成 from sixteenth-century
China: “From age one, start from the ascendant sign and go backward [counterclockwise] one
sign every one year. The crossover [to a new sign] happens at the birthday” (skqs 809: 426).
Therein this specific convention is called “Lesser Bound of Annual Profections.”
26. z 31, no. 1: 437a7–10. Here the planet presiding over the year employs the navagraha. Rāhu:
ages 1 and 10. Saturn: ages 2 and 11. Mercury: ages 3 and 12. Venus: ages 4 and 13. Sun: ages 5 and
14. Mars: ages 6 and 15. Ketu: ages 7 and 16. Moon: ages 8 and 17. Jupiter: ages 9 and 18. This same
system is explained in further detail in the Byakuhō kushō (tz 7: 314b25–15a1).
One last noteworthy feature of the 1113 horoscope is its reference to the decans.
Decans are “simply the thirds of the zodiacal signs, that is, sections of the eclip-
tic of 10° lengths. Historically the decans go back to Egyptian lists of thirty-six
constellations which were drawn up many centuries before the introduction of
the zodiac” (Neugebauer and Van Hoesen 1959, 5). One system of the decans
assigns planets to each decan, the ordering of which is Chaldean, that is, Babylo-
nian (Greenbaum 2015, 228). Such a model is explained by Firmicus Maternus,
an astrologer who lived in the mid-fourth century ce and wrote a Latin work
on astrology titled Mathesis (the decans are defined in II.IV, “De Decanis”). This
“Chaldean” ordering of the planets follows the assumed distances of the planets
relative to the Earth from a geocentric perspective: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun,
Venus, Mercury, Moon. In the Japanese horoscopes, decans are indicated by the
character 度 (“degree”). We know that the 1113 horoscope at hand is referring to
the decans based on the classical definitions provided by Firmicus. For example,
“Venus is positioned in its own degrees” (z 31, no. 1: 431a15). If we look at the
horoscopic chart, Venus is located in the first third of Aquarius. Firmicus states,
“Aquarii primus decanus Veneris est, secundus Mercurii, tertius Lunae” (Mathe-
sis 1: 45). The first decan of Aquarius is ruled by Venus.
The Sukuyō go unroku uses the same vocabulary as the Sukuyō unmei kan-
roku, but it does not actually refer to the standard decans. For example, it states
that “Mercury is in its own degrees,” but Mercury is in Leo and the decans of
Leo are Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. Similarly, twice it states that “Venus is in the
degrees of Jupiter” (Momo 1990, 146–47), but Venus is in Virgo and the decans
of Virgo are the Sun, Venus, and Mercury.
What can we learn from Sukuyōdō horoscopy? It is a blend of Buddhist, Dao-
ist, Iranian, and Hellenistic concepts, representing a thoroughly developed sys-
tem of astrology inherited from late-Tang China. The astrologer who produced
the 1113 horoscope felt a need to defer to traditional texts, rather than relying
on personal interpretation, indicating a preference for canonical authority. He
relied most often on the non-Buddhist Duli yusi jing, only occasionally citing
canonical Buddhist texts. This brings to mind the remarks of Momo (1975, 1, 17),
who stated that Sukuyōdō actually relied primarily on Duli yusi jing, rather than
the Xiuyao jing, despite the common misunderstanding of some modern schol-
ars who assume that Sukuyō must be derived from Xiuyao jing and, therefore, is
primarily based on said text.
Conclusion
This study has demonstrated the importance of horoscopy in Japanese soci-
ety and Buddhism during the Heian and Kamakura periods. Despite the sig-
nificance of Iranian influences in the relevant materials, there is no evidence to
suggest that Buddhists themselves were aware of their original providence. In

fact, Li Miqian, the astrologer who brought the Duli yusi jing to China between
795 and 805, is identified as having come from Western India. The purported
author of the Qiyao rangzai jue, Jinjuzha, is also said to have come from West-
ern India. Some Japanese Buddhists believed that the Xiuyao jing was originally
taught by Mahāvairocana, which was eventually handed down to Amoghavajra
and then to Kūkai. The other works under consideration were simply believed to
have come from a generic Indian source. Horoscopy was not originally regarded
as specifically Buddhist in China, but in the late-tenth century it was Buddhist
monks in Japan who became professional astrologers capable of casting horo-
scopes and interpreting them. It is therefore warranted to regard horoscopy in
medieval Japan as a “Buddhist art.”
This study has suggested that Japanese Buddhist astrology should be divided
into two types: Mikkyō Astrology and Sukuyōdō. The former, which was intro-
duced in the early ninth century by Kūkai and Tendai monks, primarily dealt
with hemerology as a means of determining auspicious dates for the execution
of rituals. The latter dealt with horoscopy, which was far more sophisticated,
requiring calendrical science and a wide body of astrological lore. The plentiful
elements of horoscopic doctrines that can be traced back to the ancient Hel-
lenistic tradition are noteworthy, and point to a largely unrecognized line of
knowledge transmission from the Near East through China to Japan. It stands to
reason that medieval Japan might have received other such bodies of knowledge
that have yet to be identified, such as in medicine and music.
Mikkyō traditions and Sukuyōdō both practiced astral magic, some elements
of which stem from Iranian, rather than Indian, sources. The precise differences
between their traditions is a topic that might be explored in a future study, but it
is expressly clear that Sukuyōdō not only produced horoscopes for the purposes
of prognostication but also to identify astrologically unfavorable configurations
in a birth chart that might be addressed via worship of specific planets that were
regarded as sentient deities. Astrology in this context was not fatalistic.
Finally, modern Japanese “Sukuyō” is actually unconnected with the medie-
val Sukuyōdō tradition. This point is obvious from the fact that popular Sukuyō
books generally deal only with the Xiuyao jing and not horoscopy. It is still
nevertheless intriguing that a Buddhist form of astrology was revived in the
twentieth century and turned into a system available on the popular market. A
study of the roots and development of modern Sukuyō would be a worthwhile
investigation.
references
* Chinese and Japanese reign years and eras are converted into modern years
based on the Tōhō nenpyō 東方年表 (Kyoto: Heirakuji Shoten, 2013).
*For determining modern dates from traditional Japanese and Chinese
dates, I have made use of the tools of http://moon.confusionindex.com/pc
/calendar/27/.
abbreviations
dz Daozang 道蔵. 36 vols. Beijing: Wenwu Chubanshe, 1988.
g Gunsho ruijū 群書類従 . 18 vols. Ed. Hanawa Hokiichi 塙保己一. Tokyo:
Keizai Zasshisha, 1898–1902.
skqs Siku quanshu 四庫全書. Ying yin Wen yuan ge Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四
庫全書. 1,500 vols. Taipei: Taiwan Shangwu Yinshuguan, 1983.
sz Shingonshū zensho 真言宗全書. 44 vols. Ed. Shingonshū Zensho Kankōkai
真言宗全書刊行会. Kōyasan: Shingonshū Zensho Kankōkai, 1933–1939.
t Taishō shinshū daizōkyō 大正新脩大蔵経. 100 vols. Takakusu Junjirō
高楠順次郎 and Watanabe Kaigyoku 渡辺海旭 et al., eds. Tokyo: Taishō
Issaikyō Kankōkai, 1924–1934. Digitized in CBETA (v. 5.2) and SAT
Daizōkyō Text Database (http://21dzk.l.u-tokyo.ac.jp/SAT/satdb2015
.php).
tz Taishō zuzō 大正図像 . 12 vols. Takakusu Junjirō and Ono Genmyō
小野玄妙, eds. Tokyo: Daizō Shuppan Kabushiki Kaisha, 1932–1934.
Digitized in SAT Taishōzō Image DB (http://dzkimgs.l.u-tokyo.ac.jp
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z Zoku gunshoruijū 続群書類従 . 37 vols. Ed. Hanawa Hokiichi. Tokyo:
Zoku Gunshoruijū Kanseikai, 1923–1943.
zh Zoku gunshoruijū hoi 続群書類従補遺 . 4 vols. Ed. Hanawa Hokiichi.
Tokyo: Zoku Gunshoruijū Kanseikai, 1928–1930.
primary sources
Asaba shō 阿娑縛抄. tz 8: 743–1106, 9: 1–946.
Bonten kara zu 梵天火羅図. tz 7: 693–704.
Byakuhō kushō 白宝口抄. tz 6: 343–516, 7: 1–384.
Chengxing lingtai biyao jing 秤星霊台秘要経. dz 289, 30.
Chin’yo hōin waka 珍誉法印和歌. z 16, no. 1: 348–50.
Dafangdeng daji jing 大方等大集経 (Mahāsaṃnipāta). t 397, 13.
Dainichi kyō sho en’ō shō 大日経疏演奧鈔. t 2216, 59.
Dari jing shu 大日経疏. t 1796, 39.
Da shengmiao jixiang pusa shuo chuzai jiaoling falun 大聖妙吉祥菩薩說除災
教令法輪. t 966, 19.
Foshuo beidou qixing yanming jing 仏說北斗七星延命経. t 1307, 21.
Genji monogatari 源氏物語. By Murasaki Shikibu 紫式部. 5 vols. Tokyo: Iwanami

Shoten, 1958–1963.
Go shōrai mokuroku 御請来目録. t 2161, 55.
Gyōrin shō 行林抄. By Jōnen 靜然. t 2409, 76.
Hino’o kuketsu 檜尾口訣. t 2465, 78.
Jikaku Daishi den 慈覚大師伝. z 8-2: 683–99.
Jikaku Daishi zaitō sōshin roku 慈覚大師在唐送進録. t 2166, 55.
Jiu Tang shu 旧唐書. 16 vols. Comp. Liu Xu 劉昫. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju, 1975.
Jiuzhi li 九執暦 (*Navagraha-karaṇa). skqs 807: 933–43.
Kanmon gyoki 看聞御記. By Fushiminomiya Sadafusa 伏見宮貞成. zh 3–4.
Kōya Daishi go kōden 高野大師御広伝. z 8, no. 2: 607–66.
Kuyō hiryaku 九曜秘暦. tz 7: 769–73.
Kuyō hiryaku 九曜秘暦. The Metropolian Museum of Art, New York (item#
1975.268.4). https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45616.
Kuyōtō zuzō 九曜等図像. tz 7: 737–47.
Lingtai jing 霊台経. dz 288, 5.
Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya 摩訶僧祇律. t 1425, 22.
Mathesis. By Firmicus Maternus. Iulii Firmici Materni Mathesos libri VIII. 2 vols.
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Nichū reki 二中暦. 13 fasc. Handwritten manuscript. National Diet Library (#830–35).
Nihon biku Enchin nittō guhō mokuroku 日本比丘円珍入唐求法目録. t 2172, 55.
Nihonkoku genzai sho mokuroku 日本国見在書目録. By Fujiwara Sukeyo 藤原佐世.
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Nihon ryōiki 日本霊異記. g 17: 18–125.
Nihon shoki 日本書紀. 2 vols. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1965–1967.
Nijū-hachi suku zuzō 二十八宿図像. tz 7: 776–800.
Nittō guhō junrei gyōki 入唐求法巡礼行記. Shanghai: Shanghai Guji Chubanshe,
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Nittō shingu shōgyō mokuroku 入唐新求聖教目録. t 55, 2167.
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Ono ruihi shō 小野類秘鈔. sz 36: 3–92.
Qiyao rangzai jue 七曜攘災決. t 1308, 21.
Rumen chong lizhe zhong kanyu wanxiao lu 儒門崇理折衷堪輿完孝録. dz 1471, 35.
Shetoujian Taizi ershiba xiu jing 舍頭諫太子二十八宿経. t 1301, 21.
Shin shosha shōrai hōmontō mokuroku 新書写請来法門等目録. t 2174a, 55.
Sho ajari Shingon mikkyō burui sōroku 諸阿闍梨真言密教部類総録. t 2176, 55.
Sukuyō go-unroku 宿曜御運録. Reproduced in Momo (1990, 142–51).
Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 宿曜経縮刷. 2 vols. Ed. Wakita Bunshō 脇田文紹. Nagoya:

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Sukuyō senmon shō 宿曜占文抄. Reproduced in Ujiro (2012, 112–20).
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Taizō kuzuyō 胎蔵旧図樣. tz 2: 477–566.
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Xingxue dacheng 星学大成. skqs 809: 285–870.
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Xitian yusi jing 西天聿斯経. skqs 809.
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appended plates
Planetary deities in Kuyō hiryaku 九曜秘暦, by Sōkan 宗観 (fl. 1125). The
Metropolian Museum of Art, New York. (Images are declared as Public Domain.
www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45616.)
1. Iranian-Mesopotamian Sun.
2. Iranian-Mesopotamian Moon.
3. Iranian-Mesopotamian Mars.
4. Iranian-Mesopotamian Mercury.
5. Iranian-Mesopotamian Jupiter.
6. Iranian-Mesopotamian Venus.
7. Iranian-Mesopotamian Saturn.
8. Iranian Rāhu.
9. Iranian Ketu.
10. Zoomorphic Jupiter Moon Sun.

11. Zoomorphic Saturn Mars.
12. Zoomorphic Mercury Venus.

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What are the two types of Buddhist astrology identified in Japan?

What are the two types of Buddhist astrology identified in Japan?

What role did astral magic play within Buddhist traditions according to the document?

What role did astral magic play within Buddhist traditions according to the document?

Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 45/1: 37–86

© 2018 Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture

Jeffrey Kotyk is Visiting Fellow at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

demonstrated by his explanation of intercalary months (jungetsu 潤月) and

Mikkyō Astral Magic

figure 1. Tejaprabhā Maṇḍala in Asaba shō.

figure 3. Ketu in Bonten kara zu.

With respect to the introduction of Tejaprabhā to Japan, Ennin’s catalog of items

figure 4. Saturn in Genzu mandara. figure 5. Libra in Genzu mandara.

zoomorphic icons (see appended plates below),13 were authenticated through

figure 8. Niu/Abhijit. figure 9. Wei/Mūla.

figure 12. Liu / Aślesā.

figure 13. Makara (tz 2: 286).

the depictions of the nakṣatras in a Japanese document titled Nijū-hachi suku

History of the Sukuyōdō

having to employ calculations or redesigning Chinese observational astronomy

3 斗11 牛3 女10 危4 室2 室17 奎5 婁3 胃5 昴6 畢10 參8

4 斗12 牛4 女11 危5 室3 壁1 奎6 婁4 胃6 昴7 畢11 參9

5 斗13 牛5 虚1 危6 室4 壁2 奎7 婁5 胃7 昴8 畢12 參10

7 斗15 牛7 虚3 危8 室6 壁4 奎9 婁7 胃9 昴10 畢14 井2

8 斗16 牛8 虚4 危9 室7 壁5 奎 10 婁8 胃10 昴11 畢15 井3

9 斗17 女1 虚5 危10 室8 壁6 奎 11 婁9 胃11 畢1 畢16 井4

10 斗18 女2 虚6 危11 室9 壁7 奎 12 婁10 胃12 畢2 觜1 井5

11 斗19 女3 虚7 危12 室10 壁8 奎 13 婁11 胃13 畢3 參1 井6

12 斗20 女4 虚8 危13 室11 壁9 奎 14 婁12 胃14 畢4 參2 井7

13 斗21 女5 虚9 危14 室12 壁10 奎 15 婁13 昴1 畢5 參3 井8

14 斗22 女6 虚10 危15 室13 奎1 奎 16 胃1 昴2 畢6 參4 井9

15 斗23 女7 危1 危16 室14 奎2 奎 17 胃2 昴3 畢7 參5 井10

1 井12* 井27 柳10 張4 張 19 翼16* 軫12 角8 氐1 氐16 尾6 箕4

2 井13 井28 柳11 張5 翼1 翼17 軫13 角9 氐2 房1 尾7 箕5

3 井14 井29 柳12 張6 翼2 翼18 軫14 角10 氐3 房2 尾8 箕6

4 井15 井30 柳13 張7 翼3 翼19 軫15 角11 氐4 房3 尾9 箕7

5 井16 鬼1 柳14 張8 翼4 軫1 軫16 角12 氐5 房4 尾10 箕8

6 井17 鬼2 星1 張9 翼5 軫2 軫17 角13 氐6 房5 尾11 箕9

7 井18 柳1 星2 張 10 翼6 軫3 軫18 亢1 氐7 心1 尾12 箕10

8 井19 柳2 星3 張 11 翼7 軫4 軫19 亢2 氐8 心2 尾13 斗1

10 井21 柳4 星5 張 13 翼9 軫6 角2 亢4 氐10 心4 尾15 斗3

11 井22 柳5 星6 張 14 翼10 軫7 角3 亢5 氐11 尾1 尾16 斗4

12 井23 柳6 星7 張 15 翼11 軫8 角4 亢6 氐12 尾2 尾17 斗5

13 井24 柳7 張1 張 16 翼12 軫9 角5 亢7 氐13 尾3 箕1 斗6

14 井25 柳8 張2 張 17 翼13 軫10 角6 亢8 氐14 尾4 箕2 斗7

15 井26 柳9 張3 張 18 翼14 軫11 角7 亢9 氐15 尾5 箕3 斗8

table 1. Lunar stations—zodiac signs—solar terms correspondences.

Section four of the horoscopic commentary deals with “various fortunes”

suggest that Buddhists themselves were aware of their original providence. In

Genji monogatari 源氏物語. By Murasaki Shikibu 紫式部. 5 vols. Tokyo: Iwanami

Sukuyōkyō shukusatsu 宿曜経縮刷. 2 vols. Ed. Wakita Bunshō 脇田文紹. Nagoya:

Akazawa Haruhito 赤澤春彦

Isahaya, Yoichi, and Lin Jyuh Fuh

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Neugebauer, Otto, and Henry Bartlett Van Hoesen

Takeda Kazuaki 武田和昭

Yano Michio 矢野道雄

10. Zoomorphic Jupiter Moon Sun.

12. Zoomorphic Mercury Venus.