CELESTIAL GENERALS

Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Kings of Hells: Leaf 36

Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Kings of Hells: Leaf 36

Deity
Celestial Generals
Dynasty
Song Dynasty
Date / Period
1200s
Institution
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection
ASIAN – Album leaf
Medium / Material
Album, ink on paper
Dimensions
Painting: 34.2 x 38.3 cm (13 7/16 x 15 1/16 in.)
Accession Number
2004.1.36
Source
Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Kings of Hells: Leaf 36. 1200s. Album, ink on paper. The Cleveland Museum of Art. John L. Severance Fund in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou and Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange). 2004.1.36

Description

This extraordinary album has 50 paintings on a variety of religious subjects. They were likely created by several master craftsmen to share with studio apprentices as models for fulfilling commissions. The Jade Emperor and the Daoist pantheon make up the first 26 leaves. The next 14 leaves portray the Buddhist Ten Kings of Hell administering punishments to the dead. The third section, called “Clearing the Mountains,” features divine soldiers, led presumably by the deity Erlang Shen 二郎神, fighting undesirable creatures.