Unknown
48-3/4 x 16-3/16 in. (image) 75-1/4 x 17-3/8 in. (overall) W: 19-1/8 in. (w/knobs) H: 3/4 in. (hanging cord)
Dr. Kenneth R. Shaffer Fund
Asian Art (Japanese and Korean)
Private U.S. collection; (Kaikodo, New York, New York); purchased by the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 2012.
帝釈天
Despite his calm, noble expression, Taishakuten, Buddhist guardian of the east, is also the Hindu god of war and thunderstorms, known as Indra. He wears courtly garb and a resplendent crown and is backed by a flaming mandorla (halo). In his right hand he holds a vajra thunderbolt—derived from a weapon and symbolizing the indestructibility of the Buddhist Law. His left hand holds a mirror, which symbolizes the delusion of mistaking reflection for reality. Once Taishakuten converted to Buddhism, he became one of its greatest protectors.
Metadata about the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection comes from Newfields’ records and research. In some cases, information may be incomplete and research is ongoing. Newfields’ goal is to have as up-to-date metadata as possible, therefore, this information is subject to change. Newfields collections’ metadata is available under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) waiver, which allows for re-use without legal restrictions.
Artworks that appear in the image file(s) above may be in copyright or have other legal and/or cultural restrictions to their use. For clarity, Newfields does not claim copyright to the image files created by Newfields of artworks in the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection. Newfields makes every effort to ascertain the copyright status of artworks in the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection. Please refer to the RightsStatements.org statement above for information about the current copyright status of the artwork. Additionally, some artworks may include Local Context’s Notices or Labels that attribute cultural authority of the artwork’s heritage and data.
Additional information about Newfields’ reproduction guidelines can be found in the Licensing Resources.
4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 46208-3326 | 317-923-1331
Copyright © 2024 Newfields. All rights reserved.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA-251861-OMS-22].