Fugen Enmei Bosatsu (Samantabhadra)

1743

Japanese, died 1760

Invoked in the rite for longevity, this type of Fugen Enmei bosatsu (bodhisattva) has twenty arms, each holding a Buddhist ritual implement, including a vajra (pronged ritual object), a bell, and jewels. The deity’s power is also manifested by the four six-tusked white elephants he rides. On the head of each elephant stands one of the four directional guardians. The elephants stand on a large wheel representing Buddhist law, which is supported by thousands of smaller elephants.

Color and gold on silk

36 x 16 7/8 in. (91.5 x 42.8 cm)

Overall h.: 71 1/16 in.

Overall w.: 24 1/8 in.

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

69.17

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, A Thousand Cranes: Treasures of Japanese Art, Feb. 5 - July 12, 1987.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view July 16 - Dec. 5, 2021].

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