CELESTIAL GENERALS

The Guardian God Bishamonten

The Guardian God Bishamonten

Deity
Bishamonten
Sculpture Type
Wood Sculpture
Dynasty
Heian period
Date / Period
Heian period, 12th century
Institution
Tokyo National Museum
Collection
The TNM Collection
Medium / Material
Wood with pigment
Dimensions
Original Japanese: 高66.1 台座高10.0 AI Translation: Height: 66.1 cm; pedestal height: 10.0 cm
Accession Number
C-298
Source
ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan, Tokyo National Museum, C-298.

Description

Here, the guardian god Bishamonten glares with bulging eyes to ward off evil spirits. He holds a miniature tower representing the Buddha, whose sacred realm he protects from the enemies of Buddhism. Created in the 1100s, his static, shallowly carved form represents an artistic style that was popular among Japan’s nobles and emperors.