In this paragraph it said "Since its arms are missing, we do not know how they were positioned, or what symbolic implements they held." Does that mean there was only one of these ever made? and that he wasnt drawn anywhere?

Maybe, We don't know for sure and all drawn records by have been destroyed, burned etc

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Course: Art of Asia > Unit 4

Lesson 7: Heian period (794–1185)

A guardian king

This fierce-looking king is a symbolic protector of the Buddha's sacred law and also a fighter of evil spirits. His right foot is raised to stamp upon the head of a demon (now missing). His armor consists of tunic, trousers, chest and back plate, and tied sash. A lion's face decorates the plate at his waist. This figure may be one of the Guardian Kings of the Four Directions, who belong to a large class of Buddhist deities below the level of buddhas and bodhisattvas. The torso of the figure is carved from a single block of wood. Since its arms are missing, we do not know how they were positioned, or what symbolic implements they held. The entire surface was originally smoothed and painted.

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Миленa
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Миленa's post “Was Lady Murasaki a Buddh...”
Was Lady Murasaki a Buddhist? If so, did she likely believe in traditional Japanese deities as well as in the Buddhist religion? Do gods or mentions of Buddha appear in the Tale of Genji?
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Kimberly Sanders
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Kimberly Sanders's post “In this paragraph it said...”
In this paragraph it said "Since its arms are missing, we do not know how they were positioned, or what symbolic implements they held." Does that mean there was only one of these ever made? and that he wasnt drawn anywhere?
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(3 votes)
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- KatClaw15
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to KatClaw15's post “Maybe, We don't know for ...”
  Maybe, We don't know for sure and all drawn records by have been destroyed, burned etc
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danh.tran-13696
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to danh.tran-13696's post “How did the king fight th...”
How did the king fight the evil spirits.
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Joseph Macias
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Joseph Macias's post “This fierce-looking king ...”
This fierce-looking king is a symbolic protector of the Buddha's sacred law and also a fighter of evil spirits. His right foot is raised to stamp upon the head of a demon (now missing). His armor consists of tunic, trousers, chest and back plate, and tied sash. A lion's face decorates the plate at his waist. This figure may be one of the Guardian Kings of the Four Directions, who belong to a large class of Buddhist deities below the level of buddhas and bodhisattvas. The torso of the figure is carved from a single block of wood. Since its arms are missing, we do not know how they were positioned, or what symbolic implements they held. The entire surface was originally smoothed and painted.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Joseph Macias's post “This fierce-looking king ...”
(1 vote)
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