Page 54 - The Buddhist Pantheon as Seen Through Postage Stamps

Dharma Protectors \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

护法诸天菩萨

Four Heavenly Kings: Four Heavenly Kings: 四天王，⼜称护世四天王或四⼤⾦剛，

The Four Heavenly Kings are 是佛教著名护法神, 他们分别是：

four deities that reside in the • Vaisravana – Chief of the four

lowest heavenly realm within kings and protector of the • 北⽅多闻天王：“多闻”意为颇精通佛

Buddhist cosmology. Each deity north, he who hears everything 法， 以福、德闻于四⽅

watches over one cardinal

direction of the world. They are • Dhrtarastra – King of the east, • 东⽅持国天王：“持国”意为慈悲为

said to “serve as protectors of he who upholds the realm 怀，保护众⽣，护持国⼟

the dharma and of sentient

beings who are devoted to the • Virudhaka – King of the • 南⽅增⻓天王：“增⻓”意为能传令众

dharma”. The Hall of the south, he who causes to grow ⽣， 增⻓善根，护持佛法

Heavenly Kings is a standard

component of Chinese Buddhist • Virupaksa – King of the west, • 西⽅⼴⽬天王：“⼴⽬”意为能以淨天

temples. Standing beside he who sees all 眼随 时观察世界，护持⼈⺠

Maitreya Buddha are the four

Heavenly Guardians or Dharma

Protectors.