Virudhaka

JAPAN; Kamakura period

This statue of Virudhaka, the Heavenly King of the South, is assembled from several pieces of wood and gilded. Virudhaka was originally a Hindu god that was included into the Buddhist pantheon to become a Dharma protector, who is especially popular in China and Japan.
Virudhaka’s hair is arranged about a frame and held in place by an intricate headpiece. The figure glares downward ferociously while standing on a rock and grasping a trident in one hand. The full set of armor is worn over a long, wide-sleeved undergarment. The right hand is placed on the waist while the advanced right leg is slightly bent, giving a feeling of action to the otherwise rigid figure.