Fahai Temple Great Hero Hall: Four Heavenly Kings

CHINA, Beijing; Ming dynasty

These murals of the Four Heavenly Kings are part of the Brahma, Sakra, and Heavenly Beings murals located on both sides of the north wall in the Great Hero Hall. The Four Heavenly Kings reside on the four sides of Mount Sumeru and each protects a different direction. They are Dhrtarastra Heavenly King of the East, Virudhaka Heavenly King of the South, Virupaksa Heavenly King of the West, and Vaisravana Heavenly King of the North. Dhrtarastra has a green face with slender eyes and plays a pipa. Virudhaka has a green face with wide eyes, and he holds a sword in his right hand. Virupaksa has a red body, knitted eyebrows, and a curly beard. He holds a jewel in his left hand and a snake in the right. Vaisravana has a golden body and wide eyes. He holds a stupa in his left hand and his right hand holds a banner. All the Heavenly Kings wear armor and billowing stoles. They appear intense and imposing. These portraits, painted with bold colors and meticulous details, represent an ingenious exaggeration of descriptions of the Heavenly Kings in Buddhist sutras.