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Zhaohua Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals - Vajrapanibalins
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Zhaohua Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals - Vajrapanibalins
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Zhaohua Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals - Vajrapanibalins
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Zhaohua Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals - Vajrapanibalins
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Zhaohua Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals - Vajrapanibalins
CHINA, Hebei, Huai'an; Ming dynasty (1368–1644), dated 1562
These two murals are painted on the doors of the south wall in the Great Hero Hall. According to the Maharatnakuta Sutra, there was once a cakravartin (wheel-turning monarch) who had a thousand sons. One of them vowed that if all the other princes became Buddhas, he would turn into a Vajrapanibalin warrior and protect the Dharma. When the thousand princes did indeed became Buddhas, he transformed into a Vajrapanibalin. Although only one warrior is described in the sutra, temple entrances are often symbolically protected by two: one on each door panel.
Both figures have large, round faces and are dressed in colorful armor with decorative beast's heads on the chest plates. Their heads are surrounded by flaming nimbuses, and stoles billow around their bodies. The Vajrapanibalin on the right wears a helmet topped with a red tassel. Appearing calm and peaceful, he joins his palms in reverence, supporting a sword wrapped in cloth with his forearms. The warrior on the left wears a headdress decorated with flaming jewels. Holding a sword in his right hand, he looks off to the side with wide eyes and knitted brows. His long beard and mustache are depicted with fine lines. |
