Heavenly King Virudhaka
1368–1644
- Medium
- hanging scroll; color on silk
- Dimensions
- Painting only: 110 x 75.2 cm (43 5/16 x 29 5/8 in.); Overall: 243 x 95 cm (95 11/16 x 37 3/8 in.)
- Genre
- Painting
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
About
Virudhaka, Lokapala or Heavenly King of the South, is one of four guardians placed at the entrance of Buddhist temple halls or hung on all four sides of an altar for protection against evil spirits. Having a blue face, Virudhaka wears armor and holds a sword. Demons flank the deity: one with open mouth and three eyes whirls a banner and holds a snake; the other has a dragon slung around his neck.