CELESTIAL GENERALS

Standing Tobatsu Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa)

Standing Tobatsu Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa)

Deity
Bishamonten
Sculpture Type
Wood Sculpture
Dynasty
Song Dynasty
Date / Period
12th century
Institution
Nara National Museum
Collection
Collection Database
Medium / Material
Wood, joined block construction
Dimensions
H 164.0
Accession Number
754-0
Source
ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan, Nara National Museum, 754-0.

Description

This iconographic form of Bishamonten (Skt. Vaiśravaṇa) is distinguished by its Central Asian style, which is seen particularly in the tall crown with the design of a bird and his long coat of chainmail armor. He stands with both legs supported by the earth goddess Chintennyo, emerging from the ground and flanked by two demons. It comes from Kōfukuji Temple in Nara, and it copies an important statue enshrined at Tōji in Kyoto.