Jikokuten 持国天

Sk: Dhrtarastra. A guardian deity with fierce expression *funnusō 忿怒相, believed to protect the east of Buddha's realm. Usually represented as part of a group of Four Guardian Kings *Shitennō 四天王, each standing on a demon *jaki 邪鬼. Often wears armor yoroi 鎧, a helmet *kabuto 兜, and carries a sword. Japan's oldest Jikokuten statue, made of painted wood, forms part of the mid-7th century shitennō group in Hōryūji *Kondō 法隆寺金堂, Nara.