四天王像の内 (Shitennō zō)|One of the Four Heavenly Kings

Unknown

late 11th–early 12th century · Painted wood, ichiboku technique · Asian Art

The Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō) protect the four quarters of the universe in the four cardinal directions, warding off evil and guarding the nation. In Japan they are typically placed around the main altar of a central deity, dressed as military generals, carrying an assortment of weapons and wearing ferocious expressions as they stand triumphantly over the defeated bodies of demons (symbolizing their subjugation of Buddhism’s enemies). The Burke Collection example is carved from a single block of wood (ichiboku) and wears the Chinese military armor one expects to find in representations of guardian figures from the late Heian period.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 11th–early 12th century

Medium

Painted wood, ichiboku technique

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mary Griggs Burke, 1974