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Dakini

14th century
Not on view
Dressed in Chinese courtly attire, Dakini sits astride a fox on a cloud held aloft by dragons and grasps a vajra sword and sacred jewels. An ancient Hindu deity, Dakini was originally a man-eating demoness transformed by the Buddha Mahavairocana (Dainichi Nyorai) into a life-engendering divinity. She embodies powers of fertility that were invoked for imperial enthronement rituals in the Kyoto court, which led to her assimilation with the ancient Shinto fox deity, Inari.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 荼枳尼天像
  • Title: Dakini
  • Period: Nanbokuchō period (1336–92)
  • Date: 14th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on hemp
  • Dimensions: Image: 29 1/2 in. × 13 in. (74.9 × 33 cm)
    Other (with mounting): 64 1/8 × 19 1/2 in. (162.9 × 49.5 cm)
    Other (with mounting and rollers): 21 3/4 in. (55.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, in honor of Wen C. Fong, 2000
  • Object Number: 2000.274
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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