Mandala of the Thirteen Buddhas (Jūsan butsu mandara)
This grouping of thirteen Buddhist deities, consisting of five buddhas, seven bodhisattvas, and one wisdom king, is worshipped in the Shingon school. Each deity is the focus of one of thirteen memorial services conducted to pray for the postmortem wellbeing of a deceased person, held in the days, weeks, and years following death. This practice, which emerged in Japan in the fourteenth century and was widespread during the Muromachi period, is related to worship of the Ten Kings of Hell.
Artwork Details
- Title: Mandala of the Thirteen Buddhas (Jūsan butsu mandara)
- Artist: Unidentified artist
- Period: Muromachi 1392–1573), Momoyama (1573–1615), or Edo (1615–1868) period
- Date: 16th or 17th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
- Dimensions: Image: 37 × 15 5/8 in. (94 × 39.7 cm)
Overall with mounting: 63 1/4 × 21 in. (160.7 × 53.3 cm)
Overall with knobs: 63 1/4 × 23 1/8 in. (160.7 × 58.7 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in honor of Barbara Brennan Ford, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.396.1
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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