What is "shitenno"

Shitennō (四天王), a Japanese term normally referring to the Buddhist Four Heavenly Kings, is also applied to particularly famous or loyal retainers, in groups of four, to certain of Japan's most famous legendary and historical figures.

The following four are referred to in legend as the Shitennō of Minamoto no Yorimitsu (also known as Raikō) (948-1021):

• Sakata no Kintoki - known as Kaidomaru in his past. Kintoki originated from the House of Suzaku.
• Urabe no Suetake - Originated from the House of Sōryū
• Usui Sadamitsu - Originated from the House of Genbu.
• Watanabe no Tsuna - Originated from the House of Byakko.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159–1189) was accompanied by the following four, his so-called Shitennō, who feature in the kabuki play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura and other works:

• Suruga Jirō Kiyoshige (駿河次郎清重)
• Kamei Rokurō Shigekiyô (亀井六郎重清)
• Kataoka Hachirō Tsuneharu (片岡八郎常春)
• Ise Saburō Yoshimori (伊勢三郎義盛)

The is a Japanese sobriquet describing four highly effective samurai generals who fought on behalf of Tokugawa Ieyasu in Sengoku period. They were famous during their lifetimes as the four most fiercely loyal vassals of the Tokugawa clan in the early Edo period.