Tibet, Guardian Kings (11)

The four Heavenly Kings or Guardian Kings who guard the four cardinal points may have a kingly appearance on early sculptures, but on most works they have a warrior appearance, with a Mongolian armour, thick felt boots, and a helmet. They always have one head, two arms, two legs, and may be standing or seated.

Circa 1200, Tibet, Dhritarashtra and Virudhaka, painted clay on a wooden armature, recently repainted, 230 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, (Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume 1, Visual Dharma Publications, p.869 pl. 200L), at the Drolma Lhakhang of the Nyetang monastery, near Lhasa (Tibet).

Dhritarashtra, guardian of the East, king of the gandharvas, holds a lute in both hands. Virudhaka, guardian of the South, king of the khumbandas, may have a makara helmet on his head but on this example he has makara shoulder pads. He normally holds a sword in both hands, or a sword in his right hand and a jewel in the other.

Circa 1200, Tibet, Virupaksha and Vaishravana, painted clay on a wooden armature, recently repainted, 230 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, (Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume 1, Visual Dharma Publications, p.869 pl. 200L), at the Drolma Lhakhang of the Nyetang monastery, (Tibet).

Virupaksha, guardian of the West, king of the nagas, holds a snake in both hands or a snake in one hand and a stupa or a jewel in the other. The above also has a makara head over each shoulder. Vaishravana, a dharmapala and also a meditational and a wealth deity, guardian of the North, king of the yakshas, normally holds a banner of victory or a parasol in his right hand and a mongoose in the other. He sometimes rides a lion, a dragon, or a horse. He has a retinue of eight horsemen, including Jambhala and Kubera, with whom he is often confused.

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Virupaksha, painted clay on a wooden armature, photo Gerd Eichmann on wikimedia , at the Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Virupaksha, with a red body, seated and holding a stupa and a snake.

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Dhritarashra, painted clay on a wooden armature, photo Gerd Eichmannas before, at the Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

Dhritarashtra, with a white body, seated and holding a lute.

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Virudhaka, painted clay on a wooden armature, as before.

Virudhaka, with a dark blue body, seated and holding a sword in both hands. He has a ferocious expression and bites his lower lip with his upper fangs and wears a makara helmet.

Undated (15th century?), Tibet, Vaishravana, painted clay on a wooden armature, as before.

Vaishravana, with a golden yellow body, seated and holding a victory banner and a mongoose that disgorges jewels into a vase. He always has his mouth closed ‘so as not to let his poisoned breath out’. 

16th-17th century, Tibet, Virupaksha, bronze, 10,9 cm, private collection, Indian and Southeast Asian Art lot 67, 25th March 2004, Christie’s.

17th century, Tibet, Dhritarashtra, gilt copper repoussé, 26,2 cm, private collection, Art d’Asie lot 171, 16th December 2022, Christie’s (Paris).

Undated (15th century or later), Tibet, Virudhaka and Virupaksha, painted clay, photo Gerd Eichmann on wikimedia at the Kumbum in Gyantse (Tibet).

Dali Kingdom, Guardian Kings

11th-12th century, Dali Kingdom (937-1253), Guardian Protector of the East, partially gilt arsenical bronze, 15,6 cm, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (USA).

Instead of holding a lute as usual, Dhritarashtra holds a bow and an arrow. He is seated on a prostrate figure (probably a yaksha) and wears a Mongolian armour, a Kirtimukha apron, thick felt boots, and a helmet topped with a lotus bud.

Probably 13th century, Dali Kingdom, Dhritarashtra, stone, from anan article on jstor by Angela F. Howard.

The Guardian of the East playing the lute and wearing the same type of helmet. According to the author of ‘The Dharani Pillar of Kunming, Yunnan, A Legacy of Esoteric Buddhism and Burial Rites of the Bai People in the Kingdom of Dali (937-1253)’, the figure under him is a yaksha threatened by a serpent.

Probably 13th century, Dali Kingdom, Vaishravana, stone, Dharani Pillar of Kunming, from Angela Howard’s above-said article.

Vaishravana, dressed in armour and sandals, standing on three figures. The author explains that the central figure supporting him is the Earth, assisted by two yakshas.

Gandhara, Guardian Kings

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, The Lokapala offering bowls to the Buddha, schist, photo on Columbia University

Only three of the four guardian kings are depicted on this fragment, dressed in princely attire and each holding a bowl; one of the two devotees flanking the Buddha looks like Vajrapani with a large vajra sceptre in his right hand. Shakyamuni holds a bowl in his left hand and raises his right hand in the fear-allaying gesture.

2nd-3rd century, ancient region of Gandhara, Offering of Four Bowls to the Buddha, schist, private collection, photo and detailed explanation of the scene by Mark Rasmussen on Bonhams, see also Ghani ur Rehman

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Presentation of the bowls, schist, at the British Museum in London (UK).

On these, and many other examples from Gandhara, the four guardian kings (also called the Four Great Kings, the Four Heavenly Kings) cannot be distinguished.

4th century, Gandhara, lokapala, possibly Vaishravana, stucco, 71,8 cm, private collection, photo on Christie’s

A singular figure with a cross belt and a chainmail skirt, standing on a lion and holding a club in his right hand.

Tibet, Dhritarashtra (3)

16th century, Tibet, Dhritarashtra (labelled ‘Virudhaka’), gilt bronze, 28 cm, private collection, Indian and Southeast Asian Art lot 134, 21st September 2007, Christie’s

16th-17th century, Tibet, Dhritarashtra (labelled ‘Virudhaka’), gilt copper repoussé with polychromy, 47 cm, private collection, Indian and Southeast Asian Art lot 335, 21st March 2007, Christie’s.

On the first image he is smiling, on the seconde one he appears to be singing.

Circa 17th century, Tibet, Dhritarashtra, gilt copper repoussé with turquoise and coral inlay, 23 cm, private collection, plaque also featuring Mahakala and a goddess, Art d’Asie lot 68, 12th June 2021 on aaoarts

Circa 18th century, Tibet? (labelled ‘Tibetan inscribed’), Dhritarashtra, gilt bronze, 10,5 cm, private collection, photo on Leonard Joel

Whether seated or standing, Dhritarashtra, king of the gandharvas and guardian of the East on a mandala, always holds a lute in both hands. He usually wears a Mongolian warrior’s outfit (armour, helmet, and thick boots) and is often adorned with a crown, earrings, a short necklace, and a celestial scarf.