Historical Buddha Shakyamuni with the bodhisattvas Fugen (Samantabhadra) and Monju (Manjushri)

Historical period(s)
Muromachi period, 15th century
Medium
Color and gold on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 114.8 × 59.2 cm (45 3/16 × 23 5/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1907.652
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll

Keywords
Buddhism, elephant, Japan, kakemono, lion, lotus, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), throne
Provenance

To 1906-1907
Unidentified owner, to 1906-1907 [1]

From 1906-1907 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from an unidentified owner, during collecting trip to Asia, in 1906-1907 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Reserved Kakemono List, R. 599, pg. 19, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. According to the Accession List, Collections Management office, C.L. Freer purchased this object during his "Oriental trip, 1906-1907."

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Label

Buddhist deities are often painted and displayed at  altars in groups of three or more-typically a Buddha at the center and his attendant bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) to the left and right. Here the Historical Buddha Shakyamuni sits on a lotus-shaped throne with his attendants: Fugen to his right, holding a lotus and seated on an elephant, and Monju, seated on a lion, to his left. Surrounding the Buddha and the heads of the bodhisattvas are circular halos representing light and wisdom emanating from the sacred figures. Ornate patterns embellished with gold are typical of traditional Buddhist paintings, which honor deities through resplendent decoration.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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