Fudo Myo'o

Object Details

• Artist

  Ichigyo

• Label

  The Buddhist deity Fudo Myo'o is a protector of the Buddhist law and its believers. He holds a sword and rope to bind up and destroy evil. Flames representing an aura of light appear behind the figure. This image, painted in ink, was probably based on a wood sculpture portraying this deity. Sculptures or paintings of Fudo were placed or hung at the altar of a Buddhist temple for ceremonies. The painter Ichigyo was a Buddhist monk. His precise, expressive draftsmanship reflects professional training in Buddhist painting.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Japanese Art from the Collection (October 26, 2024 - ongoing)

  In the Shadow of an Apocalypse (October 14, 2017 to October 28, 2018)

  Buddhist Art (May 9, 1993 to August 9, 2011)

  Japanese Art (July 1, 1974 to April 10, 1978)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 1 and 2 (February 25, 1956 to January 1, 1963)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s, 1300s

• Name

  Ichigyo

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Kamakura period (1185 - 1333), Art, Japanese Art, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings