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Guardian King of the North (Bishamonten)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
In Buddhism, Bishamonten is one of four kings who protect the cardinal directions. He stands with a stupa symbolizing the Buddhist teachings and relics of the Buddha in the palm of his left hand, and a spear to foil the enemies of Buddhism in his right. He crushes a demon beneath his feet.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineGuardian King of the North (Bishamonten) (毘沙門天像), 1185–1333. Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333). Wood with gold polychromy; overall: 76.8 x 28.6 cm (30 1/4 x 11 1/4 in.); base: 5.2 cm (2 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, James Parmelee and Cornelia Blakemore Warner Funds, 1959.135
