Fudō Myōō and Two Attendants

14th century

Not on view

Fudō Myōō—literally, “the Immovable Wisdom King”—is a fearsome protector of Buddhist teachings. Originally an important deity of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyō), he was also revered in Zen temples. This triptych of images (1975.268.26–.28), hand-painted but with printed outlines, was created as one of the publication projects promoted by early medieval Zen temples to spread Buddhist teachings and iconography. This printed triptych seems to have been based on a painting of Fudō and his attendants executed by the noted Zen monk-scholar Ryūshū Shūtaku (also known as Myōtaku), who is said to have painted pictures of Fudō on a daily basis for over twenty years. The boy attendants often depicted with Fudō are Kongara (on the right) and Seitaka. The model for this printed triptych was most likely Myōtaku’s painting in the collection of the Henjōkō’in temple at Kōyasan

Artwork Details

龍湫周沢写　不動明王二童子像
Title: Fudō Myōō and Two Attendants
Artist: After Ryūshū Shūtaku (Myōtaku) (Japanese, 1307–1388)
Period: Nanbokuchō period (1336–92)
Date: 14th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: One of a triptych of hanging scrolls; hand-colored woodblock print on paper
Dimensions: Image: 41 7/8 × 14 1/4 in. (106.4 × 36.2 cm)
Overall with mounting: 71 × 20 3/4 in. (180.3 × 52.7 cm)
Overall with knobs: 71 × 22 1/2 in. (180.3 × 57.2 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975
Object Number: 1975.268.27
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Fudō Myōō and Two Attendants, Ryūshū Shūtaku (Myōtaku) Japanese, One of a triptych of hanging scrolls; hand-colored woodblock print on paper, Japan — Fudō Myōō and Two Attendants
Ryūshū Shūtaku (Myōtaku)
14th century

Kongara-doji, Ryūshū Shūtaku (Myōtaku) Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan — Kongara-doji
Ryūshū Shūtaku (Myōtaku)
1387

Three Poems from the Later Collection of Japanese Poems (Gosen wakashū), Monk Saigyō Japanese, Page from a booklet, mounted as hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan — Three Poems from the Later Collection of Japanese Poems (Gosen wakashū)
Monk Saigyō
late 12th century

”Abiding nowhere, the awakened mind arises”, Musō Soseki Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan — ”Abiding nowhere, the awakened mind arises”
Musō Soseki
early to mid-14th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.