• Artwork

    Sibiji-shin – The Twelve Spirit Generals: 십이지신

    Introduction One of the more common things to greet you at a Korean Buddhist temple, in one form or another, are the twelve Zodiac animals; which, in Buddhism, they’re known as The Twelve Spirit Generals. In Korean, they’re known as the Sibiji-shin – 십이지신. And they come in many forms at a Korean Buddhist temple. They can appear as shrine hall paintings, statues, or even adorning pagodas. However, the way that they appear at a Korean Buddhist temple are special to Korean Buddhism. So what are they? What do the Twelve Spirit Generals look like? And why are they located at Korean Buddhist temples? The Twelve Spirit Generals While the…