Artwork preview

Ōtsu-e of Shōmen Kongōyasha (Vajrayaksha)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Vertical hanging scroll painting on tan paper with darker brown rectangular border around the artwork. Central figure of a green skinned male deity with dark hair, adorned in a white and red robe and seated atop a throne-like chair. He holds an object in his right hand and a vajra in his left. A halo-like blue ring surrounds his head and body with streaks of red. Seven figures surround him. A white-clad figure on the bottom center appears to be bowing with arms crossed. A figure on the bottom left wears a red robe with a red and white sash and appears to hold a staff. A figure on the bottom right wears a white robe with gold accents. Three figures are on the left and right sides, with the left wearing blue with gold accents and the right two wearing green with gold accents. The background behind the central figures fades from brown at the top to gray at the bottom. The scroll has a black background.

Artwork Details

Date
probably late 16th–early 17th century
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
229 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette