The Iconography of the Sixteen Benevolent Gods

Among the many Buddhist sutras that record the buddha Shaka’s teachings, the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra is one of the most widely revered. Sixteen guardian deities are believed to protect the sutra, and they are depicted in this painting alongside the Four Heavenly Kings.

The painting lacks the vibrant colors of other Buddhist works, depicting its subjects using only thin lines of black ink. This style of depiction is called hakubyo-zuzo in Japanese, meaning “white drawing,” and refers to its extensive use of white space. Drawings of this type were used as models or underdrawings for producing Buddhist paintings, or for record-keeping or research. This drawing is by Gensho, a monk who lived from the mid-12th century to the early-13th century and who is also known for his study of these types of works. Many line drawings of this type, including this piece, were handed down at Kosanji Temple in Kyoto.

There is something charming about these buddhas, with their short, stout figures and round noses. A closer look at the tools in their hands, which include brushes and three-pronged vajras, reveals that at least three figures hold each implement. Ordinarily, even when such repetitions exist, at most two figures carry identical objects, generally in symmetrical pairs. This drawing may have been made during an early, trial-and-error stage in Buddhist art, before the composition of the sixteen guardian deities was formalized.