Artwork Page for Zaō Gongen

Details / Information for Zaō Gongen

Zaō Gongen

蔵王権現像

1200s

Japan, Kamakura period

(1185–1333)
Medium
wood
Measurements
Average: 106.7 cm (42 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1973.105
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
235B Japanese
Print
?

Did You Know?

Zaō Gongen wears the pelt of a large feline, the face of which is near his knee.

Description

Zaō Gongen is the guardian deity of Mount Kinpu in Yoshino south of Nara. Zaō appeared at the behest of En no Gyōja, who prayed for a powerful protector of the mountain. The deity was described as a combined manifestation of the Buddha Shakyamuni, Thousand-Armed Kannon, and Miroku. These three deities were viewed as the past, present, and future protectors of the world. Zaō’s appearance derives from portrayals of fierce Buddhist deities.
Dark brown, wood sculpture of Zaō Gongen, a deity who bends his right knee bent up, right arm held up at a right-angle and left bent down, two fingers pressed against his waist. His right hand holds a cylinder with three prongs on each end. He wears a feline animal pelt wrapped around his waist, the face between his legs. Eyebrows furrowed, a flame-like shape extends from the top of his head.

Zaō Gongen

1200s

Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.