Known as Lokapala and as the Devaraja, or
Celestial King, this style of guardian figure is
a more general type of Chinese art known as
mingqi. Mingqi were any variety of objects
specifically created for interment in the
tombs of elite individuals in order to provide
for the afterlife. These guardians were most
likely interred in order to ward off potential
tomb robbers or other evil spirits in the next
world that might try to infiltrate the tomb.
Traditionally, this fierce, armored guardian
stands, as represented here, upon a
recumbent ox, with one foot resting on the
head and another on the body, symbolic of
the Celestial King’s authority. Originally, this
type of figure had its origins in Buddhist
philosophy; however, over the ages, as
society became more secularized, they
began to fulfill the more generic role of tomb
guardians. As society evolved, these figures
lost their religious significance and became
symbolic of the military might that protected
the wealth of the Tang from the nomadic
barbarian invaders of the North. Clearly,
these are imposing figures that were
supposed to ward away the forces of evil
and protect the deceased throughout
eternity. Although these works were never
meant to be viewed by the living, they amaze
us with their refined artistry and
sophisticated beauty. While this Celestial
King is supposed to frighten us with his stern
glare and aggressive posture, originally he
would have brandished a wooden spear or
sword that has vanished over the ages, we
are instead drawn to his overwhelming
beauty and history.
- (H.682 B)
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