#lokapala

The Afterlife Journey: Divine Protectors and Guides in Korean Buddhist Painting, July 18, 2022

Cheeyun Lilian Kwon, professor at the School of Fine Arts, Hongik University, Seoul, discusses the Ksitigarbha painting in the Art Institute’s collection. Influenced by a unique amalgamation of various sources, Korea adopted a vision of the afterlife that was protected by the Ksitigarbha bodhisattva and accompanied by a host of heavenly beings. In this talk, Cheeyun Lilian Kwon discusses the Ksitigarbha painting in light of the Buddhist tradition that became deeply rooted in Korea for over a millennium. Such paintings acted as central agents in the Buddhist rituals dedicated for the dead in pre-modern Korea.

Cheeyun Lilian Kwon is professor in the Arts and Cultural Management Department and the School of Fine Arts, Hongik University, Seoul. She received her PhD in East Asian art from Princeton University and taught Korean and East Asian art at American University and George Mason University. She also served as curator of Korean art at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and curatorial consultant at the Freer and Sackler Galleries, Smithsonian Institution.

This program is generously funded by the National Museum of Korea.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva with Six Light Bodhisattvas, 16th–17th century

Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), Korea

Ink and color on hemp cloth mounted on panel

155.6 x 230.5 cm ( 90 3/4 x 61 1/4 in.)

This painting of Kshitigarbha (Jijang Bosal in Korean,) flanked by the Ten Kings of Hell and guardian deities, reflects the prevalence of faith in Kshitigarbha in Korean Buddhism. Kshitigarbha is the overlord of the Buddhist underworld who has the ability to save sentient beings from hell. Whereas Buddhism enjoyed the royal patronage during the Goryeo period, it became the religion of the masses in the late Joseon period, resulting in stylistic changes in Buddhist painting. Instead of expensive gold or lapis lazuli, red and green became the main palette; more affordable materials such as paper, cotton, or hemp were chosen over silk; and depicted robes show simpler treatment with little to no decoration.

~ Lokapala Guardian King.

Date: late 7th-early 8th century

Culture: Chinese

Considering all those folders, I’ll pick an elaborate headcanon. I’ll try to keep most of the information fresh, because I know I have talked about some parts in years past.

Some history of the Lokapala:

In 1990 the International Environmental Stabilization Committee was formed to—as the name suggests—aid in preventing decline and devastation to the natural world due to global warming/climate change.

This photo brought up in the exposition Roland bring up at the beginning of Digital Devil Saga 2 are not the original founding members, but rather the heads of their own respective departments during the time of the photo (~2015). The man highlighted off to the left is who I believe to be Greg due to his similarities with Adult Fred.

Gregory was a plant ecologist and head of the botanical department of the IESC, dealing with how the changing environment was effecting plant and vice versa. (NOTE: this is why Fred had an olive branch as a memento from Greg and why Kathy and Johnny are adamant about replanting miscellaneous flowers/plants the player finds).

During this time, Roland was working various computer engineering jobs, and his main skill was software work like coding and programming. During his leisure at night, Roland would practice his creative writing skill and apply to be published. He wrote under the pseudonym “Roald.” Both Greg and Roland had been friends at this point and their history goes back a generous handful of years.

Some years later the Karma Society scouts the head members of the IESC. Having been swayed and under a false belief, Gregory’s family then moves out to Oregon, however afterwards he laters denies the job offer. Roland follows Gregory out to the West Coast after cautionary words from Greg about “something big going to happen.”

The Black Sun Incident of 2020 happens, and word gets around to why the phenomena occurred and other schemes of the Karma Society. In attempts to quell angered and enraged mob of survivors, Gregory and Roland collectively propose the concept of the Lokapala, but being an introvert, Roland lets Greg take the leadership role.

Among the surviving locals of the surrounding area was Johnny and Kathy, James and his girlfriend (who resided in the Karma City), Tizi, and Shestov.

And when I talk about Tizi and Shestov, I headcanon the highlighted two specifically, respectively:

Adil, however, was a member of the United States military that was brought over to be positioned in the Society once the military started stepping in on the God Project, and joined up with the Lokapala after deserting the Military and Society after becoming aware of their heinous deeds.

Later history in Brief:

The Lokapala was formed in 2020 in response to the Black Sun.

Spring 2023, their leader, Greg, dies saving his men.

May 2025, the Lokapala preform a last stand, and their second leader, Roland, dies as well as his second in command, Adil.

Raise your hand if you've checked out our new Arts of Asia galleries! 

This fierce, armor-clad Lokapala or Heavenly King (tian wang) would have served as a Buddhist guardian of the four cardinal directions, protecting both the dharma (teachings of the Buddha) and the religious community. During the Tang dynasty, such protectors were often portrayed with non-Han facial features, reflecting the import of Buddhism into China as a foreign religion, introduced by foreign monks and merchants who brought new⁠ ideas, technologies, and religions across the ancient⁠ trading routes. 

Īśāna – Lokapāla and Guardian of the Northeast

Relief on panel in the outer parikrama of the central temple dedicated to Lord Śiva in the great Trimūrtī temple complex of Prambanan, central Java.

Lokapālas or guardian deities of the cardinal directions is a concept common to Buddhist temple architecture. Īśāna is often associated with the Yakṣa Kubera – the Lord of Wealth and divine treasurer. While the triśūla or trident is sometimes an attribute of Īśāna absence of vāhana is unusual.

*still having nosebleed* WELL