Historical Buddha Shakyamuni with the bodhisattvas Fugen (Samantabhadra) and Monju (Manjushri)

Object Details

• Label

  Buddhist deities are often painted and displayed at altars in groups of three or more-typically a Buddha at the center and his attendant bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) to the left and right. Here the Historical Buddha Shakyamuni sits on a lotus-shaped throne with his attendants: Fugen to his right, holding a lotus and seated on an elephant, and Monju, seated on a lion, to his left. Surrounding the Buddha and the heads of the bodhisattvas are circular halos representing light and wisdom emanating from the sacred figures. Ornate patterns embellished with gold are typical of traditional Buddhist paintings, which honor deities through resplendent decoration.

• Provenance

  To 1906-1907

  Unidentified owner, to 1906-1907 [1]

  From 1906-1907 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from an unidentified owner, during collecting trip to Asia, in 1906-1907 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Reserved Kakemono List, R. 599, pg. 19, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. According to the Accession List, Collections Management office, C.L. Freer purchased this object during his "Oriental trip, 1906-1907."

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Words of Wisdom: Buddhist Calligraphy from Japan (April 1, 2023 to February 25, 2024)

  Religious Art of Japan (December 18, 2002 to January 4, 2015)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s, 1400s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Cats, Art, Shakyamuni, Monju, Lotus, Elephants, Throne, Fugen, Charles Lang Freer collection, Animals, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Japanese Art, Kakemono

• Culture

  Buddhists, Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings