Cheonwangmun - Gate of the Heavenly Kings
photo © 2000 Kerk Phillips
This is the second gate, the "Gate of the Four Heavenly Kings" or Cheonwangmun. It was originally built in 1699, but has been rebuilt and remodeled several times since then. The four kings or divas are set here to guard the entrance of the temple.
Inside the Gate
  Virupaksa, Guardian of theWest |   Vaisravana, Guardian of the North |
  Dhrtarastra, Guardian of the East |   Virudhaka, Guardian of the South |
all photos © 1998 Kerk Phillips
The Four Heavenly Kings dwell in the heaven closest to this earth and guard the four cardinal directions.
The placement of the four kings in the gate is given by the following map:
The gate has been repainted since my first visit in 1980. Here is what it looked like then.
