Head of a Guardian King: Famous Sculpture

Q: Where can I see it?

At the Art Institute of Chicago. It was donated by Robert Allerton in 1921 and is part of the museum's Asian art collection.

This granite or limestone head dates to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), when Buddhist art reached its peak in China. It depicts a Guardian King (Lokapala), one of the Four Heavenly Kings who protect the cardinal directions in Buddhist cosmology. These fierce warrior figures guarded temple entrances and tomb interiors, shielding sacred spaces and the deceased from evil spirits. The foreign facial features visible on many Tang guardian figures reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the dynasty, shaped by Silk Road trade with Central Asia, Persia, and beyond.

Tang Dynasty restrictions controlled how many objects could be placed in tombs based on social rank. A typical set included two guardian kings and two civil officials representing the four directions. This head was a gift from Robert Allerton and is now at the Art Institute of Chicago. The expressive carving and dynamic features are hallmarks of Tang sculpture at its most confident.

In Buddhist cosmology, the Four Guardian Kings (Lokapala) protect the four cardinal directions from Mount Sumeru. Each commands an army of supernatural beings and inspects human morality. They appear as fierce warriors with powerful bodies and intense expressions.

Lokapalas protected the deceased in the afterlife from evil spirits. Tang Dynasty tombs typically contained a set of four figures: two guardian kings and two civil officials representing the cardinal directions and ensuring safe passage to the next life.

The Tang Dynasty was one of the most cosmopolitan periods in Chinese history. Silk Road trade brought contact with Central Asian, Persian, and Western cultures, and sculptors incorporated these diverse features into guardian figures to emphasize their otherworldly power.

At the Art Institute of Chicago. It was donated by Robert Allerton in 1921 and is part of the museum's Asian art collection.

Head of a Guardian King

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