Lokapala on a Recumbent Bull

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.