Two Heavenly King statues in courtyard at Emerald Buddha Temple, Bangkok
About this photograph
- Creator
- Margery H. Freeman
- Date created
- Unknown
- Location
- Bangkok, Thailand
- License
- This photograph copyright ©2006. Terms of use
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Two of four Heavenly King guardian statues at the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok are visible in a courtyard between red-tiled portico roofs.
In Buddhism, four celestial kings are said to protect the cardinal directions of north, south, east, and west. These kings symbolically guard the entire universe ruled under Buddhist kings and law. With tall Siamese crowns, face paint, and weapons, they are depicted as fierce guardian warriors prepared to repel invaders.
This image was photographed in November 1982.
