BRONZE DAOIST FIGURE OF VIRUPAKSHA MING DYNASTY 明 銅鑄廣目天王立像 the Buddhist Guardian General is cast standing mightily on a trapezoid podium supported with four pillars enclosing openwork panels on a larger trapezoid stand raised on four bracket feet, clad in full armour decorated with upside down beast head-epaulettes on the belly and lower sides, adorned with billowing scarves, his left hand holding a flaming pearl disc, face in wrathful expression marked by intense almond-shaped eyes below furrowed brows, a broad nose, flaring moustache and beard, wearing a Ming official headwear (43.2cm high; 5.5kg) Qty: (1) Provenance: Private Scottish collection, acquired in Glasgow in the 1970s Note: This figure of Virupaksha portrays one of the four heavenly guardian kings or the keepers of the universe. Buddhist tradition associates the heavenly defenders, dharmapalas, with the four directions, Dhritarashtra (Chiguo) of the East, Virudhaka (Zengchang) of the South, Virupaksha (Guangmu) of the West, and Vaishravana (Duowen) of the North, defending the four heavens. Each cosmic directional god is portrayed as a military commander identified by their arms and armour. Virupaksha's feature is his divine eyes. His name in Chinese- Guangmu, means the expanded eyes, as he is known as the 'king who sees all'. In this present lot, this materialises as the attribute- a flaming pearl disc- held in his left hand. Normally the Guardian of the West also holds a naga rope, symbolising power, nobleness, and greatness. This heavenly guardian king is depicted in a wrathful state, which within Buddhist iconography implies expelling away evil energies.