Skanda, photo 1 of 3
Skanda, photo 2 of 3
Skanda, photo 3 of 3

Photo credit

Photo
Ming Guardian Figure of Skanda
By
Gary Todd
Licence
CC0
Source
Wikimedia Commons
Changes
Resized

Photo credit

Photo
260201 Manpuku-ji Uji Kyoto pref Japan02s5
By
663highland
Licence
CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Wikimedia Commons
Changes
Resized

Photo credit

Photo
Ping Sien Si - 010 Wei hu (Skanda) (15948243350)
By
Photo Dharma from Penang, Malaysia
Licence
CC BY 2.0
Source
Wikimedia Commons
Changes
Resized

韦驮菩萨

韋馱菩薩
Wéituó Púsà
proper noun

Meanings

  1. 1 Skanda (Wei-tuo) Bodhisattva, the guardian general of Buddhist monasteries and protector of the Dharma

About Skanda

宗教人物 religious figure

Armoured general who guards the Buddhist teachings and monasteries. In Chinese temples he stands in the 天王殿 behind the smiling 弥勒, facing the main hall, his vajra club in hand.

Also called  韦驮、 韦陀

Examples

HSK 7-9
Sìmiào de Tiānwáng Diàn hòumiàn tōngcháng gòngfèng zhe Wéituó Púsà.
Behind the Hall of Heavenly Kings in temples, Skanda Bodhisattva is usually enshrined.
HSK 7-9
Wéituó Púsà shǒuchí jīngāng chǔ, miànxiàng Dàxióng Bǎodiàn.
Skanda Bodhisattva holds a vajra and faces the Mahavira Hall.

Tips

culture
His name is a copying slip for Skanda, a Hindu war god: the Sanskrit was shortened to 建陀, scribes miswrote 建 as 违, later cut to 韦. Temple lore reads his vajra 杵: on his shoulder, visiting monks may lodge three days; held flat, one day; planted on the ground, none.

Stroke Order

韦 wéi
驮 tuó
菩 pú
萨 sà