BISHAMON

Real Name: Bishamon

Identity/Class: Japanese god

Occupation: God of war, justice and law, god of the north

Group Membership: The Kami, Shi Tenno (Gods of protection), the Shichi Fukujin (gods of luck)

Affiliations: Gods of Olympus

Enemies: Chaos King (Amatsu-Mikaboshi)

Known Relatives: Izanagi (father), Marish-Ten (mother), Komoku, Jigoku, Zoco (brothers), Kishijoten (sister/wife), Takamimusubi, Tsukuyomi, Susanoo, Kagutsuchi, Emma-O (half-brothers), Amaterasu, Uke-Mochi (half-sisters), Fukrokuju, Daikaiku, Hotei, Jorojin (sons), Ame-no-Mi-Kumari (niece), Ebisu (granddaughter), Jimmu Tenno, Prince Shotoku (descendants, deceased)

Aliases: Tamon, Bishamon-temo, Bishamonten

Base of Operations: Ama

First Appearance: Ares#5 (July, 2006)

Powers/Abilities: Bishamon possesses the conventional attributes of the Kami (Gods of Japan) including superhuman strength, invulnerability to harm, longevity and limited experience in the mystical arts. He also possesses great wealth and the ability to dispense ten forms of good luck among mortals.

History: (Myth) - Bishamon is a member of an extradimensional race of beings known as the Kami who were worshipped as gods by the ancient people of modern Japan. He was considered the heavenly god of the north among the Shi Tenno, four gods who defended the four cardinal points of Japan. He was also counted among the Shichi Fukujin, seven gods of luck who represented and revealed the gods as symbols of nature representing fortune, magnanimity, candour, diginity, popularity, longevity and amiability. As a god, he was protector of law among gods and mortals.

Through his grand-daughter, Ebisu, Bishmaon was considered an ancestor of the divine emperors of Japan, including Emperor Jimmu Tenno. In the Sixth Century, one of his descendants, Prince Shotoku of Yamato, called on him in his crusade against anti-Buddhist factions invading Japan.

(Ares#5) - Bishamon joined the other gods of Japan in journeying to the aid of the gods of Olympus, who were sieging the lands of the demon Mikaboshi, and believed that their aid had been requested due to the manipulations of Inari. The combined forces of the gods ultimately prevailed over the demons.

(Chaos War#3) - Bishamon fought the Chaos King and his alien god army when the Chaos King attacked the Kami. He seemingly fell in battle.

Comments: Adapted by Michael Avon Oeming, Travel Foreman and Derek Fridolfs.

To the Japanese, Bishamon represented a blue-faced warrior clad in full armor. His attributes include a spear and a pagoda, a symbol of religous devotion.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Bishamon should not be confused with:


Images taken from:
Ares#5, page 4, panel 4


Ares#5 (July, 2006) - Michael Avon Oeming (writer), Travel Foreman (penciler), Derek Fridolfs (inker), Warren Simons (editor)
Chaos War#3 (January, 2011) - Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (writers), Khoi Pham (penciler), Tom Palmer (inker), Jordan D. White (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (senior editor)

First Posted: 10/02/2006
Last updated: 06/18/2016

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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