Qing Imperial Palace: Embroidery of the Sixteen Arhats, Four Heavenly Kings, and Skanda

CHINA, Beijing; Qing dynasty

This embroidery was originally kept in the Qing Imperial Palace. The Four Heavenly Kings are depicted in pairs: Vaisravana, Heavenly King of the North, holds an umbrella, Dhrtarastra, Heavenly King of the East, holds a lute, Virupaksa, Heavenly King of the West, holds a lance with a dragon motif, and Virudhaka, Heavenly King of the South, grasps a sword. They appear formidable and wear armor with jeweled crowns, scarves, and boots. Skanda appears with both hands on the pommel of a sword, and flying ribbons from his helmet give him a majestic look.
The Sixteen Arhats are embroidered with either one or two Arhats on each page either sitting or standing. Each character is portrayed in a vivid and lively manner using a wide range of stitching techniques.