Please Identify

[xnewx]

Can someone tell me who this photo represents?
I am told he is a protector of the weak... he is holding a staff with a dragon head.

Sorry photo is not better
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/whoisthisy.jpg/

[Dexing]

I can't see it. It seems a broke img code.

[xnewx]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/whoisthisy.jpg/

embedding the photo didnt work. but if you click the link, that works.

[Seishin]

Still can't see the image

[Bonsai Doug]

Here it is. But it's not a particularly good photo.

[plwk]

I see a frog in an ice cube...

[Seishin]

Not a clue

[Will]

Just guessing - one of the 16 Arhats? Too bad the plaque at his feet is so fuzzy to be read.

[xnewx]

Thanks for the help so far.
While taking the photo I was nudged by the staff and told photos were not allowed in this area.
I had also hoped it would have been clear enough to reat the text at his feet.

The statue is located in Sichuan, China in a cave at Oriental Buddah Park.
He is situated across from Guanyin... if that helps at all.

[xnewx]

Is it a complete mystery then?
Has anyone here ever visited the Park where the photo was taken?

How many notable figures could there be that weild a dragon staff?

(fyi : this is not Asita or Fuk Luk Sau)
I did my best to hunt him down on the net but I found nothing.

[plwk]

There may be one...the chinese folk land deity/god who is mostly portrayed as seated and rarely standing, carrying a dragon staff or a plain walking stick (depending on who's doing his iconography), in full traditional chinese robes, a small flat hat or none at times and demeanour of an old man and rarely paired with his lesser spouse known as the 'grandmother of earth/land' or sometimes he is represented by just a wooden/stone tablet with chinese words describing his name and function... more images here

[xnewx]

Hello and thanks for that. Good deductive reasoning... but I think that is not him.

Oriental Buddha Park (东方影剧院) houses replicas from all over Asia... maybe they just got this one wrong?
The famous replicas of Bodhisattvas and Bamiyan buddhas etc. all seem to be good replicas though.
But who knows...
Buddhist blessing ceremonies are actively performed at the site to bring harmony and remove negative energy.
The site actually has some rather dark beginnings and was utilized as a means for cashing in on tourist traffic.
But in the years that followed the site has become a place for pilgramage as well as tourism.

Anyway, if this is discoved to be your patron protector that watches over you... it is said that your prayers should go to Guanyin\Avalokitesvara.
As I initially heard the name wrong and then later couldn't recall it... I later considered that this could be from Vajrayana Buddhism, maybe it is Dainichi Nyorai\Vairocana or Acalanatha... but it didn't seem to match. If no one knows who it is... maybe it isn't anyone?

[Seishin]

Think I might have found something....
Hachidai ryuu-oo 八大竜王 Ryu-O
Eight Great Dragon Kings


http://dragondarumamuseum.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.butuzou.co.jp/english/hachidairyuoo.html

[Wesley1982]

Could be a mythical figure of some sort of guardian or gatekeeper.

[xnewx]

I dunno.

From what I was able to understand...

He has some sort of prior history of being invovled with the people and is a favored protector under Guanyin... after enlightenment and becoming a protector he remained rather recluse.

He is said to lay with his back on the mountain with his dragon staff to his side.
He watches in solitude as people pass by... he intervenes when travellers are preyed upon or if he witnesses injustices.
He is intolerant to the strong abusing the weak.
He requires no thanks or prayers... prayers should be made to Guanyin.

If I ever (and I'm sure someday I will) learn more of him... I'll post it here.