Fudō Myōō (Achala Vidyaraja)

12th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 224

Fudō is the most widely represented of the Buddhist deities known as Myōō, or Kings of Brightness. A fierce protector of the Buddhist law, he is a direct emanation of Dainichi Nyorai, the principal Buddha of Esoteric Buddhism. The first sculptures of Fudō Myōō made in Japan showed the figure seated, but standing examples like this one began to appear in the eleventh century. Fudō uses his sword to cut through ignorance and his lasso to reign in those who would block the path to enlightenment. The heavy weight of the shoulders and back is planted firmly on the stiffened legs, appropriate for a deity whose name means “the Immovable One.” This statue, composed of six hollowed-out pieces of wood, was formerly the central icon at Kuhonji Temple, northwest of Kyoto.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

不動明王像
Title: Fudō Myōō (Achala Vidyaraja)
Period: Heian period (794–1185)
Date: 12th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Wood with lacquer, gold leaf, and color; joined-woodblock construction (yosegi-zukuri)
Dimensions: H. 63 3/4 in. (162 cm)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975
Object Number: 1975.268.163
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

The Bodhisattva Jizō, Intan Japanese, Japanese cypress wood (hinoki) with polychrome pigments, gold paint (kindei), cut gold leaf (kirikane), and rock-crystal eyes, Japan — The Bodhisattva Jizō
Intan
1291

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), Wood (wiillow) with traces of pigment; single woodblock construction, China — Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)
China
dated 1282

Attendant Bodhisattva Kannon, Wood with lacquer, gold paint, gold leaf, and inlaid crystal, Japan — Attendant Bodhisattva Kannon
Japan
late 12th–13th century

Jizō, the Bodhisattva of the Earth Store, Wood with lacquer, gold leaf, cut gold leaf (kirikane), and color, Japan — Jizō, the Bodhisattva of the Earth Store
Japan
late 12th–mid-13th century

Six of the Twelve Divine Generals (Jūni shinshō), Wood with lacquer, color, gold, and inlaid crystal eyes, Japan — Six of the Twelve Divine Generals (Jūni shinshō)
Japan
early 14th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.