The Chinese Zodiac Guardians, also known as the Life Buddha, are eight Buddhas or Bodhisattvas deduced by the Esoteric Buddhism through the interaction of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, and the five elements of "earth, water, fire, wind, and space". They are believed to bless the twelve zodiac signs and have been the benevolent deities for protecting the Dharma enshrined by people for thousands of years.