Artwork

釈迦三尊十六善神像|Shaka (Shakyamuni), the Historical Buddha, with Two Attendant Bodhisattvas and Sixteen Benevolent Deities

釈迦三尊十六善神像|Shaka (Shakyamuni), the Historical Buddha, with Two Attendant Bodhisattvas and Sixteen Benevolent Deities is an ink painting. It dates from 1379 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2012.18
Credit line: Purchase, Sue Cassidy Clark Gift, in honor of Donald Keene, 2012

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Iconographic elements such as an elephant, a lion, a monk, and additional deities are present, reflecting standard motifs in Buddhist painting.

This hanging scroll depicts Shaka (Shakyamuni), the historical Buddha, flanked by two attendant bodhisattvas and sixteen benevolent deities, as stated in its title. Iconographic elements such as an elephant, a lion, a monk, and additional deities are present, reflecting standard motifs in Buddhist painting. The composition forms a protective assembly, likely intended for ritual veneration, emphasizing the Buddha's central role and the safeguarding function of the accompanying benevolent deities within Japanese religious practice.

Technique & Style

The painting is a hanging scroll executed in ink, color, gold, and cut gold (kirikane) on silk, a sumptuous technique typical of Japanese Buddhist icon painting of the late fourteenth century. The use of cut gold, small, individually applied sheets of gold leaf, creates a luminous, patterned effect, especially in the deities' halos and garments, while gold wash and outlines enhance the sacred aura. The silk support is consistent with the refined hanging-scroll format used for portable veneration.

The composition is formal and hieratic, with the central Buddha flanked by two attendant bodhisattvas and the sixteen benevolent deities. The anonymous artist adhered to established iconographic conventions, prioritizing clarity and devotional impact over naturalism. The condition is typical of a work of this age, with no specific damage noted in the sources.

History & Provenance

This hanging scroll was created in Japan in 1379. The artist is not recorded. The work is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No further details about its commission, original ownership, or provenance chain are available in the provided sources.

Overview

This anonymous hanging scroll from Japan's Nanbokuchō period served as a central devotional object during ritual recitations of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. Created in the late fourteenth century, the painting depicts the historical Buddha Shaka (Shakyamuni) at its core, flanked by two attendant bodhisattvas. A retinue of sixteen protective deities surrounds this central triad, emphasizing the sacred narrative and its guardians. The work is executed on silk, employing various pigments and precious metals.

Context

This scroll illustrates the enduring influence of Chinese Buddhist visual traditions on medieval Japanese art. During the Nanbokuchō period, the adoption and adaptation of iconic forms and narrative elements from continental Asia remained a significant aspect of religious painting. The work thus serves as an example of how established iconographic models were integrated into Japanese devotional practices and artistic expression during the late fourteenth century.