Buddha’s warrior attendants
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In the Buddhist faith, the Four Heavenly Kings (chin.: Sì Tiānwáng 四天王) are four guardian gods, each of whom watches over one cardinal direction of the world. They reside in the Cāturmahārājika heaven (chin.: Sì Tiānwáng tiān 四天王天) on the lower slopes of Mount Sumeru (chin.: ānmíngshān 安明山). They are the protectors of the world and fighters of evil, each able to command a legion of supernatural creatures to protect the Dharma.
Two wrath-filled and muscular guardians of the Buddha, standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples under the appearance of frightening wrestler-like statues. According to Buddhist tradition, these guardians traveled with the historical Buddha to protect him.
The Shaolin Buddhist temple (chin.: Shàolínsì 少林寺) has an impressive Two Giant Deva’s (Benevolent kings) Gate (chin.: èr Rénwáng mén 二仁王门). The Er Renwang Men of the Shaolin temple in Henan province has been rebuilt in 1980; after the original design. In both sides of the gate there is a huge statue of a Vajra Warrior or Deva Warrior. It is something that all the visitors of the famous temple can’t miss. Their fierce and threatening appearance wards off all evil spirits (chin.: yùnmó 蘊魔) and keeps the temple ground free of demons.
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