National TreasureBishamonten (Skt., Vaisravana)

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  • ink and color on silk
  • Height: 144.0cm Width: 127.0cm
  • Heian period, 12th-century
  • Kyoto National Museum
  • A甲283-10

Bishamonten, also known as Tamonten, guards the northern quarter. He is commonly depicted with a jeweled rod in his right hand and a jeweled stupa raised in his left, sitting with crossed legs. Formerly owned by Kyoogokoku-ji (To-ji) Temple, this hanging scroll of one of the Twelve Devas is an extremely important work, which can be accurately dated from historical sources. The rich colors and lavish use of kirikane (cut gold leaf) patterns in this exquisite Bishamonten denote the aesthetics of the era of the cloistered emperor.

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