Who painted Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō)?

Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō) was painted by Unknown in 1804.

Where can I see Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō)?

Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō)?

Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō) is associated with Joseon dynasty painting.

Artwork

Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō)

Unknown , 1804

Wisdom King of Great Awe-inspiring Power (Daiitoku Myōō) is an unspecified painting by the Joseon dynasty painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1976.72
Credit line: John L. Severance Fund

About this work

The artist made him look powerful, almost like a warrior god, to show how strong belief can be.

You see a fierce blue-skinned figure with six arms, riding a white ox. Flames flicker behind him, and he holds a sword, a lasso, and other symbols.

This is Daiitoku, a Wisdom King in Esoteric Buddhism. He’s not gentle, his job is to scare away evil and protect the faith. The artist made him look powerful, almost like a warrior god, to show how strong belief can be.

If you want to see more like this, look up Japan, Edo period (1615–1868).

Overview

This painting depicts Daiitoku Myōō, a Wisdom King in Esoteric Buddhism, shown as a powerful, blue-skinned figure with six arms riding a white ox.

Subject & Meaning

Daiitoku is an avatar of the Buddha Amida, associated with the west, and is believed to ward off evil and protect the Buddhist faith through his fierce manifestation.

Technique & Style

The artwork showcases the artist's skill in conveying the Wisdom King's power through his dynamic pose, multiple arms, and symbolic attributes, set against a backdrop of flames.

Context

The painting is characteristic of Esoteric Buddhist art from Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868), a time when such representations of Wisdom Kings were significant in religious practice and iconography.