Description:
Scroll. One of the 12 Heavenly Beings/Divine Guardians (Juniten). Man with crown in layers of robes of green, blue, white and red, a hallo with flames behind his head. Gilt knob with lotus patterns.

Label Text:
Taishakuten and Nitten are two of the 12 Juniten, or heavenly guardians. Though the Juniten originated in India as part of Hindu religious tradition, they were adopted into Buddhist theology in Japan, becoming important protectors of the nation and bringers of prosperity. Taishakuten holds in his right hand a short bronze or gold rod, probably a single-pronged tokkosho, which is his traditional mystical weapon. Nitten is the sun deity, and holds a sun disk in his right hand. In addition to their halos, both figures are richly robed and crowned, announcing their role as heavenly kings.

-Kendra Weisbin, Associate Curator of Education, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum (Sept. 2016)

Tags:
religion; legends; portraits; figures

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+2001.7.1

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