Which guardian deity of the East in Buddhism is depicted holding a lute?

The guardian deity of the East in Buddhism depicted holding a lute is Dhritarashtra.

Dhritarashtra is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, a group of protective deities who guard the cardinal directions around Mount Sumeru. He protects the eastern quarter and is associated with the gandharvas, celestial musicians. His musical role explains the lute: in East Asian Buddhist art, he commonly holds a pipa, a pear-shaped Chinese lute.

The instrument is more than a decorative attribute. It symbolizes music, harmony, and the ability to inspire or guide beings toward the Dharma. His name and appearance vary across Buddhist cultures: he is Dhataraṭṭha in Pali, Chíguó Tiān in Chinese, and Jikokuten in Japanese. Some Japanese images instead show him with a sword or spear.

A common mix-up is to confuse the four kings’ objects. Vaiśravaṇa guards the North and is associated with wealth; Virūḍhaka guards the South; and Virūpākṣa guards the West. The lute most specifically identifies Dhritarashtra in the standard East Asian grouping.