Four Heavenly Kings

Four Heavenly Kings^WP (四天王, Shiten'nō^?), also called Yorimitsu's Four Heavenly Kings (頼光四天王, Yorimitsu Shiten'nō^?), was a group of samurai that operated in Japan during the Heian Period^WP. Their leader was Minamoto-no-Raikou.

As a Servant, Raikou's Noble Phantasm Vengeful Lightning of the Ox-king lets her wield the Four Heavenly Kings' weapons.

Description

The Four Heavenly Kings was established by Minamoto no Raikou, and consisted of his four retainers, with the duty to protect the imperial capital from all possible threats.^[1] Their most famous conflict was the battle against the many Oni of Mt. Ooe^WP, which included Shuten-douji and Ibaraki-douji.

It was stated by Watanabe-no-Tsuna that he was the Head of the Four Heavenly Kings.^[2] Even amongst the group, Tsuna was the one Raikou held in the highest regard, and the other three members admired him as they would a brother.^[3]

Raikou faced with “Ushi-Gozen”… the demon inside her, and Ushi Gozen finally separated from Raikou, manifesting as an avatar of Gozu Tennou. The sky became a storm, the thunder roared chaotically, and the earth broke apart. Together with the Four Heavenly Kings, Raikou was to “kill herself” in order to defeat this being.^[1]

As the strongest of the Heian period, the Settsu Armor Kumano was Minamoto-no-Raikou and her Four Heavenly Kings' favorite set of armor.^[4] The same set that took down the Great Tsuchigumo of the Kitayama Rendai field.^[5][4]

Raikou and the Four Heavenly Kings were sent to kill Sei Shounagon’s brother Kiyohara-no-Munenobu after he killed twenty Genji warriors.

Members

• Minamoto-no-Raikou (Leader)
• Watanabe-no-Tsuna (Head)
• Sakata Kintoki
• Urabe no Suetake
• Usui Sadamitsu

Allies

• Abe-no-Seimei
• Fujiwara-no-Michinaga
• Minamoto no Mitsunaka
• Fujiwara-no-Yasumasa

Enemies

• Ushi Gozen
• Shuten-douji
• Ibaraki-douji
• Torakuma-douji
• Hoshikuma-douji
• Kanekuma-douji
• Kuma-douji
• Ashiya Douman
• Tsuchigumo

References