快慶作　不動明王坐像 (Fudō Myōō zazō)|Fudō Myōō, the Immovable Wisdom King (Achala Vidyaraja)

Kaikei

early 13th century · Japanese cypress with lacquer, color, gold, cut gold leaf (kirikane), and inlaid crystal eyes · Asian Art

Fudō Myōō is worshipped as a wrathful avatar of Dainichi, the buddha at the center of the Buddhist cosmos. A tenacious protector of Buddhist teachings, Fudō is armed with a lasso and sword to subdue negative forces. In keeping with scriptural descriptions, this example, created in the workshop of the leading sculptor Kaikei, portrays a full-bodied, menacing figure biting his lower lip, with his hair bound and falling over his left shoulder.

Artist

Kaikei

Date

early 13th century

Medium

Japanese cypress with lacquer, color, gold, cut gold leaf (kirikane), and inlaid crystal eyes

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015