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Gozu Tennō (Ox-Headed Plague Deity)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Gozu Tennō is a deity who is capable of both bringing epidemics and dispelling them. His name is literally “Ox-Headed Celestial King.” He usually has three heads with an ox-head rising above his primary face. He sometimes holds a lasso and sword or an ax, but here holds his hands in a powerful gesture that may be designed to repel illness or promote healing.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineGozu Tennō (Ox-Headed Plague Deity) (牛頭天王尊像), 1100s. Japan, Heian period (794–1185). Wood with traces of color; 22.5 x 18 x 9.6 cm (8 7/8 x 7 1/16 x 3 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Lillian M. Kern Memorial Fund, 2025.10
