Joseon Dynasty painting
- Culture: Joseon Dynasty
- Made in: Korea
- Date: 1796-1820
- Object type: painting
- Materials: linen
- Museum number: 1920,0317,0.2
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
Before you is Guardian-King of the North, a striking painting from the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The figure holds a lute, a detail that identifies him as Dhṛtarāṣṭra, one of four Heavenly Kings who protect Buddhist temples. The king stands boldly in vibrant colors: deep red, green, and gold stand out against the linen canvas.
This is an important example of Korean Buddhist painting, characterized by its large scale and dynamic, flowing lines—see how his robe billows dramatically, adding motion to the scene.
Inscribed in hanja at the top right is the title, "Heavenly King of the North." Although it matches Dhṛtarāṣṭra, his presence here contrasts with a serpent or jewel, typically carried by another Heavenly King. In any case, the painting is richly detailed with fine ornamentation and vivid color contrasts.
This work dates to the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, from 1796 to 1820, and was originally displayed at a temple in Daegu. It was later acquired through Yamanaka & Co.
See it in person
Joseon Dynasty painting is on display at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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