Shakyamuni Conquering the Demons circa 1888 Japan Early Godzilla
by Peter Ogden
Title
Shakyamuni Conquering the Demons circa 1888 Japan Early Godzilla
Artist
Peter Ogden
Medium
Painting - Ink And Color On Silk
Description
This is a restored copy of Shakyamuni Conquering the Demons; a circa 1888 ink and color on silk by prominent Edo and Meiji period Japanese artist Kawanabe Kyosai, 1831-1889.
This work most likely depicts a scene from the life of Shaka (Shakyamuni), the traditional Buddha, and the assault by the demon king Mara. Nevertheless Shaka Buddha was able to conquer Mara and his devil legion and thereby achieve enlightenment. Some visual components alter the customary iconography: a fire breathing dragon displaces the devilish human figure which usually represents Mara; a rock cave is substituted for for the bodhi tree as a place of meditation; and the Buddha's hand is in the prayer position. Customary pictorial components for illustrating the traditional Buddha in this 19th century depicting include the tuft in the middle of Buddha's brows and the cranial bulge on his head. This intricate representation of Buddha's enlightenment incorporates elements well known from other Buddhist classic representations like the outdoor scene of Buddha Descending the Mountain (Shussan Shaka) or of Rakan, who is frequently depicted as is Shaka in this album page, with a dragon.
The Fine Art America logo does not appear on the final product.
Uploaded
April 9th, 2021
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