Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō

Unidentified artist

Not on view

Veneration of the bodhisattva Jizō (Sanskrit: Kshitagarbha) became widespread during the Kamakura period. Among the iconographies associated with Jizō that originated in this period is this one, in which he manifests in the guise of a monk and rushes through the air to aid the suffering, especially those in hell. Derived from images of the Buddha Amida (Sanskrit: Amitābha) descending to welcome and escort a dying believer to his Pure Land, this painting portrays Jizō surfing the sky on a bank of cloud, his feet upon lotus pedestals. His monk’s robe is decorated with intricate patterns of cut gold. He carries a wishfulfilling jewel and a golden staff with six jangling rings, to announce his arrival.

Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō, Unidentified artist, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and cut gold on silk, Japan

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō, Unidentified artist, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and cut gold on silk, Japan
Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō, Unidentified artist, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and cut gold on silk, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.