The following figures are divided into five groups:
Names are usually given first in Chinese Pinyin, then in Chinese characters; then come the Sanskrit names, if available, or sometimes an English explanation.
Buddhas and their Attendants
Bodhisattvas and their Attendants
Kings and Generals
Arhats
Historical Figures
- Buddhas are considered to have attained Enlightenment; I have grouped their attendants with them.
- Bodhisattvas are near Enlightenment, but will not "cross over" until all sentient beings can go with them; they are also listed with their attendants.
- Kings and Generals are guardian figures found in temples.
- Arhats are enlightened disciples from the southern Buddhist tradition.
- Historical Figures are well-attested people from history (although some members of the other groups may be historical, too).
Names are usually given first in Chinese Pinyin, then in Chinese characters; then come the Sanskrit names, if available, or sometimes an English explanation.
Buddhas and their Attendants
- Shi Jia Mou Ni (释迦牟尼) Shakyamuni (the Historic Buddha)
- --E Nan (阿难) Ananda (his attendant)
- --Jia Ye (迦叶) Mahakashyapa (his attendant)
- A Mi Tou Fo (阿弥陀佛) Amitabha (the Buddha of Light and Life)
- Yao Shi Fo (药师佛) Bhaishyajaguru (the Medicine Buddha)
- Piluzhena (毘盧遮那) Vairochana (the Cosmic Buddha)
- Randengfo (燃灯佛) Dipankara (the previous Buddha)
- Wofo (卧佛) (the Sleeping Buddha)
Bodhisattvas and their Attendants
- Guan (Shi) Yin (观世音) Avalokiteshvara (the Bodhisattva of Compassion)
- --Long Nv (龙女) Nagakanya (his attendant)
- --Shan Cai (善财) Sudhana (his attendant)
- Qianshou Guanyin (千手观音) (Guanyin with 1,000 Arms)
- Guanyin Haidao (观音海岛) (a panorama of Guanyin surrounded by many figures)
- Mi Le (弥勒) Maitreya (the Bodhisattva who will be the next Buddha)
- Di Zang (地藏) Kshitigarbha (the Bodhisattva who saves all beings from Hell)
- --Min Gong (悯公) (his attendant)
- --Dao Ming (道明) (his attendant)
- Pu Xian (普贤) Samantabhadra (the Bodhisattva of Great Practice)
- Wen Shu (文殊) Manjushri (the Bodhisattva of Wisdom)
- Dashizhi Pusa (大势至菩萨) Mahasthamaprapta (a little-known but commonly-seen Bodhisattva)
Kings and Generals
- Qie Lan (伽蓝) Sangharama (also called Guan Yu, a temple guardian)
- Wei Tuo (韦驮) Skanda (Veda) (a guardian who usually stands behind the Bodhisattva called Mi Le)
- Guang Mu Tian (广目天) Virupaksa (one of the Four Heavenly Kings [West])
- Duo Wen Tian (多闻天) Vaisravana (one of the Four Heavenly Kings [North])
- Chi Guo Tian (持国天) Dhrtarastra (one of the Four Heavenly Kings [East])
- Zeng Zhang Tian (增长天) Virudhaka (one of the Four Heavenly Kings [South])
- Heng Ha Er Jiang (哼哈二将) (Generals at the gate)
- Ershi / Ershisi Tian Wang (二十 / 二十四 天王) 20/24 Deva Rajas
Arhats
- Shiliu / Shiba Luohan (十六/十八 罗汉) 16/18 Arhats
- Wubai Luohan (五百罗汉) 500 Arhats
- Shi Da Dizi (十大弟子) 10 Great Disciples of the Buddha
Historical Figures
- Amoghavajra (不空=Bukong, 705-774) translator, and founder of Zhenyan (Esoteric) School
- An Shigao (安世高, ?-~168) Parthian missionary monk to China
- Bodhidharma (菩提达摩 5th/6th century) founder of Chan (Zen)
- Daoxuan (道宣, 596-667) founder of Vinaya School
- Faxian (法显, 337-c. 422) traveling monk
- Hongyi (弘一, 1880-1942) modern monk and artist
- Huineng (惠能, 638–713) 6th and last Patriarch of Chan (Zen)
- Jianzhen (鉴真, 688–763) missionary to Japan
- Jin Qiaojue (金乔觉, 695-794?), Korean founder of Jiuhua Shan temple complex
- Jizang (吉蔵, 549-623) founder of Sanlun (Three Treatises) School
- Kumarajiva (鸠摩罗什=Jiumo Luoshi, 344–413) Kuchean monk and translator
- Lokakshema (支娄迦谶=Zhilou Jiachen, b. 147) Kushan monk and translator
- Paramartha (真谛=Zhendi, 499-569) Indian translator
- Shandao (善导, 613-681) founder of Jingtu (Pure Land) School
- Taixu (太虚, 1890-1947) modern reforming monk
- Xuanzang (玄奘, c. 602 – 664) monk, traveler, and translator
- Xuyun (虚云, 1840–1959) one of the great monks of the 20th century
- Yijing (义净, 635-713) monk, traveler, and translator
- Yinguang (印光, 1861-1940) modern reforming monk
- Zhiyi (智顗, 538–597) founder of Tiantai sect