Painting of guardian kings
- Audio guide stop: 327
- Gallery: Room 67
- Audio guide: one commentary for a group of objects shown together
- Museum: The British Museum
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About these objects
In front of you is a pair of striking Korean Buddhist paintings known as the "Painting of guardian kings." These grand-sized works once adorned the entrance of a Korean temple, serving as guardians of the cardinal directions. Both paintings are painted on hemp cloth in vibrant shades of green and earth tones, using ink and mineral colors. Their size and style are characteristic of the Korean Buddhist tradition.
These guardian figures represent Dhritarashtra, the Heavenly King of the East, and Virūpākṣa, the King of the West. Dhritarashtra is shown with a lute, a clue to his identity, while Virūpākṣa holds a serpent and possibly a flaming jewel. Their imposing presence would have welcomed and protected devotees.
Look closely at the inscriptions and signatures. They provide clues about their historical context, including dedications from local devotees and a reference to the Chinese Jiaqing era (1796–1820). These works are a rare and valuable insight into the devotional traditions of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty.
See it in person
Painting of guardian kings is on display in Room 67 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 327, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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