Dimensions: Height: 31 cm Wide 15 cm Depth 13 cm
Weight: 2381 grams

The figure is cast in bronze and a green patina, shown standing firmly on a rocky base, clad in elaborate armor with dragon-scale breastplate, layered skirts, and a lion-mask belt plaque. His powerful expression, with bulging eyes and furrowed brows, conveys his fierce protective nature. A tall crown with flame-like points encircles his head, while broad ribbons flow from the shoulders in dynamic curves.

In his right hand he holds a coiled dragon-serpent, emblem of his dominion, while his left is raised in vitarka mudrā. The figure’s imposing stance and detailed armor underscore his role as Virūpaka, King of the West, one of the Four Heavenly Kings (Lokapāla), protectors of the Buddhist cosmos.

Bronzes of the Heavenly Kings were installed in temple entrances and ritual halls, serving as guardians to repel evil and protect the Dharma. The present piece shows the stylistic vocabulary of Ming China, combining muscular modeling with intricate surface detail and a strong sense of presence.