Dharmapala Weituo

Dharmapala Weituo

(Image: Original source unknown)

Weituo (韋馱) is a Dharmapala (護法神 Hufa Shen; guardian deity) in the Chinese Buddhist tradition. A Dharmapala can be either of two types: A heavenly deity, or a manifestation of an enlightened being (a buddha or bodhisattva) – that serves as a defender and protector of the Dharma (Buddhist teachings) in general, and of Buddhist monasteries and practitioners in particular. In the case of Weituo, he is generally regarded as a great heavenly general who fights malevolent forces and protects the sanctity of Buddhist monasteries. He is at times referred to as General Weituo (韋馱將軍 Weituo Jiangjun), but more commonly and respectfully as Bodhisattva Weituo (韋馱菩薩 Weituo Pusa). His full title is Dharmapala Weituo the Honored Celestial Being and Bodhisattva (護法韋馱尊天菩薩 Hufa Weituo Zuntian Pusa). Even though Weituo is generally regarded as a heavenly being but not yet a fully enlightened one, the term bodhisattva is appended to his name and title as an honorific.

In the Golden Light Sutra (金光明經 Jinguang Ming Jing; Suvarnaprabhasa Sutra), Weituo is listed as one of the twenty-four heavenly deities that guard the Buddhist teachings (also discussed here).

Chinese Buddhist depiction of Weituo

(Image: Original source unknown)

Weituo also appears in two revelatory texts authored by the famous 7th century Vinaya (monastic discipline) master Daoxuan (道宣). One is the Record of Spiritually Miraculous Transmissions to Vinaya Master Daoxuan (道宣律師感通錄 Daoxuan Lushi Gantong Lu), and the other is the Narrative of Spiritually Miraculous Transmissions on Matters of Monastic Discipline (律相感通傳 Luxiang Gantong Zhuan). According to the revelations, Weituo is a heavenly general under the authority of Virudhaka (增長天王 Zengzhang Tianwang), the southern heavenly king in the group of Dharmapalas known collectively as the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王 Sida Tianwang). In another place however, it is also indicated that Weituo is an eighth-level bodhisattva (Note: There are ten levels of bodhisattvahood until one reaches the complete enlightenment of a buddha).

In the Chinese Buddhist tradition, Weituo is depicted as a young man with martial valor attired in the uniform of a military general who holds a vajra sword that is used to subdue demonic forces.

Chinese Buddhist depiction of Weituo
(Image: Original source unknown)

In the traditional standard layout of a Chinese Buddhist monastery, the shrine of Weituo is always located right behind the shrine of Maitreya Buddha – the first shrine inside the Heavenly Kings Hall (天王殿 Tianwang Dian) that one encounters when first entering a monastery. The shrine of Weituo always faces inwards towards the main prayer hall – the Precious Hall of the Great Hero (大雄寶殿 Daxiong Baodian) which enshrines the central image of Shakyamuni Buddha.

A statue of Dharmapala Weituo

(Image: Original source unknown)

On some shrines dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha, or any other buddhas or enlightened bodhisattvas, the statue of Weituo is also commonly seen in a pair with Guan Yu (關羽), also known in Chinese Buddhism as Dharmapala Sangharama Bodhisattva (護法伽藍聖眾菩薩 Hufa Qielan Shengzhong Pusa). In this type of layout, both Dharmapala figures flank the central image of worship as guardian warriors.

In the Chinese Buddhist tradition, the Holy Day of Weituo (韋馱聖誕 Weituo Shengdan) is observed on the 3rd day of the 6th Chinese lunar month.

Research on a pre-Buddhist antecedent for Weituo shows that he is associated with, and in all probability, derived from the Indian war god Skanda – the leader and commander of the mighty celestial armies. In the Indian Vedic tradition, Skanda is also known by his alternate names Kartikeya, Kumara, Murugan, Subramanya, and many more others.

Traditional Indian depiction of Murugan, a deity associated with Skanda/Weituo

(Image: Original source unknown)

The Lord Murugan Statue at the Batu Caves in Selangor, Malaysia

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

In some other sources, Weituo is also connected with Vajrapani (金剛手菩薩 Jingang Shou Pusa; Vajra Scepter Holding Bodhisattva), a deity that is further associated with many other different identities in various Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

Homage to Dharmapala Weituo Bodhisattva! May you always protect and defend the precious Buddhadharma.

Text © 2016 Harry Leong