
Clay
The two Heavenly Kings are located on the east and west sides of the hall, closest to the entrance. They stand guard over the Bodhisattvas Manjusri and Samantabhadra. Both Heavenly Kings are in full leather armor with a lion head featured on the belt buckle. Stoles encircle the arms and drift to the ground. The Heavenly King on the right has long hair tied into a topknot and secured by a headdress. He wears a mirror of protection on his chest. The figure’s eyes glare beneath wrinkled brows and his teeth are set. The other figure has a more benign demeanor as he spreads his arms and stands with one foot thrust forward.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z, page 1355.