Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō
Veneration of the bodhisattva Jizō (Sanskrit: Kshitagarbha) became widespread during the Kamakura period. Among the iconographies associated with Jizō that originated in this period is this one, in which he manifests in the guise of a monk and rushes through the air to aid the suffering, especially those in hell. Derived from images of the Buddha Amida (Sanskrit: Amitābha) descending to welcome and escort a dying believer to his Pure Land, this painting portrays Jizō surfing the sky on a bank of cloud, his feet upon lotus pedestals. His monk’s robe is decorated with intricate patterns of cut gold. He carries a wishfulfilling jewel and a golden staff with six jangling rings, to announce his arrival.
Artwork Details
- 地蔵菩薩来迎図
- Title: Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō
- Artist: Unidentified artist
- Period: Kamakura period (1185–1333)
- Date: 14th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and cut gold on silk
- Dimensions: Image: 36 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. (92.7 x 39.4 cm)
Overall with mounting: 69 1/4 x 23 1/8 in. (175.9 x 58.7 cm)
Overall with knobs: 69 1/4 × 25 7/16 in. (175.9 × 64.6 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
- Object Number: 29.100.525
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Unidentified artist
19th century
Unidentified artist
Liu Songnian
Unidentified artist
Unidentified artist
Unidentified artist
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.