National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

　　Fugen (Skt. Samantabhadra), who according to “The Encouragement of Fugen” (the last chapter of the Lotus Sutra) watches over devotees to the Lotus Sutra, the Ten Protective Demonesses (Skt. Rākṣasīs) and Kishimojin (Skt. Hārītī), who according to “Dharani” (the 26th chapter of this sutra) also watch over the devotees, moreover two attendants bodhisattvas, Yakuo (Skt. Bhaiṣajyarāja) and Yuze (Skt. Pradānaśūra), and Jikokuten (Skt. Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and Tamonten (Skt. Vaiśravaṇa) ride on a large flying cloud and appear before disciplinants.
　　The painting has characteristic features of a large image of Fugen riding on a white elephant with six tusks and wearing a rectangular robe (kasaya) and is represented in a style similar to those from the Sung dynasty in China, while the Ten Protective Demonesses (one of 10 goddess is not seen in the painting) and Kishimojin are represented in a traditional Japanese kimono known as juni hitoe. The images combining both Japanese and Chinese features must have deeply impressed the people of the time. A solid structure created by drawing these deities with firm lines and the delicate patterns colorfully applied on the clothes such as the juni hitoe contribute to add a great taste to this painting.
　　It is presumed that the style of paintings “Fugen and the Ten Protective Demonesses” was established in the late Heian period (794–1185) and it is deeply related to a belief among noble women at court. In iconography of the paintings, there are two types of the Ten Protective Demonesses. Some of them contain the Ten Protective Demonesses wearing clothes from the Tang period in China and others (just like this painting) in Japanese clothes to suit the believers. In particular, it is interpreted that the latter has been established in a creation process that is closer to the lives of the believers and this painting is therefore considered to be a significant work in the history of paintings in Japan. There are only a few paintings representing “Fugen and the Ten Protective Demonesses” in Japanese clothing that are believed to been created in the mid twelfth century. This painting is positioned between one individually held in Tokyo and the other is held in Fukushoji Temple in Hyogo Prefecture.