Nanda Dragon King

While exploring Sanjusangendo, there were a few things that stuck out to me. Such as the 28 statue guardians standing in front of the thousand other statues. A few of them in particular stuck out to me. Especially the thunder god, which required worshipers to get on their knees and look up at the statue which had some connection to lightning. The other one that stuck out to me was Nanda Ryūō (難陀龍王). I couldn't help but notice the sad expression he wore. It surprised me and I wanted to know why they chose such a face for this statue.

I read the plaque beneath the statue and learned that in Japanese Buddhist tradition, Nanda Ryūō is honored as both one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings and one of the Eight Heavenly Dragons. He is said to regulate the wind and rain and bring joy to people. A renowned statue of Nanda from the Kamakura period, standing 160 cm tall, is designated as a national treasure, reflecting the enduring reverence for his protective and benevolent nature.

I thought this was really interesting but still didn't really have any idea why the statue looked so sad. So I did a bit more research...

In Buddhist cosmology, dragon kings are powerful, water-associated beings with the ability to control rain. Rather than being depicted as traditional dragons, they often appear in human or half-human, half-serpent forms. These figures are believed to have turned away from evil and now use their powers to support humans on their path to spiritual awakening.

One of the most well-known among them is Nanda, also called the Nanda Dragon King. This is the statue in Sanjusangendo. His name means “Joy,” and he is one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings who gathered with their vast retinues to hear Shakyamuni Buddha preach the Lotus Sutra. Alongside the other seven—Upananda, Sāgara, Vāsuki, Takshaka, Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka—Nanda showed his deep devotion to the Buddha’s teachings.

(Now, as you might imagine, this only confused me more. His name quite literally means 'joy'....)

Nanda also appears in other important texts. In the Amoghavajra Lasso-Shinhen Mantra Sutra, he and his brother, Bhatnan, are said to have once fought against the Sagara (Great Ocean) Dragon King. This tale highlights the relationships and personal growth among divine beings, reinforcing Nanda's strength and commitment to good.

Okay, at this point I've realized that the artist just wanted the statues to look intimidating and I interpreted it as grief. 

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