Four Heavenly Kings

Four Heavenly Kings shown on the Great Mandala of Nichiren [ja] on the corners

The Four Heavenly Kings have been represented from early Buddhist art in India until today in East Asia. There are two types of distinctive iconography of the deities: a king-like appearance in India and Southeast Asia and a warrior-like appearance in Central Asia and East Asia.^[1]

Vaisravana (he who hears everything) NORTH (毘沙門天, Bishamonten) Upper Left
Virūḍhaka [en] (he who causes the growth) SOUTH (増長天, Zōjōten) Lower Right
Dhritarāshtra (he who upholds the realm) EAST (持国天, Jikokuten) Upper Right
Virūpākṣa [en] (he who sees all) WEST (広目天, Kōmokuten) Lower Left

Four Heavenly Kings Media

Tamon-ten (Vaiśravaṇa) at Tōdai-ji, Japan
The Four Guardian Kings in Burmese depiction.
Chief of the four kings and protector of the north
King of the south and one who causes good growth of roots
King of the east and god of music
King of the west and one who sees all
Statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. From left to right: Vaiśravaṇa, Virūḍhaka, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Virūpākṣa in Beihai Park in Beijing, China.
Painting of Kōmokuten (Virūpākṣa), the Guardian of the West (one of the Four Guardian Kings). 13th century, Japan.
Vaiśravaṇa of the north direction, king of yakṣas.
Virūḍhaka of the south direction, king of kumbhāṇḍas.

References

↑ Shim, yeoung shin (2013-01-01). "Four Heavenly Kings: Iconography and Symbolism seen Through Literary Evidence and Imagery". Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations.

[1] Shim, yeoung shin (2013-01-01). "Four Heavenly Kings: Iconography and Symbolism seen Through Literary Evidence and Imagery". Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations.

[1]