Aizen Myōō
Unknown Artist
1300s
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
Dimensions
painting: 102 × 60.5 cm · mounted: 183.2 × 80.3 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
2017.101
About this artwork
Aizen Myōō is the Wisdom King of Passion. He is one of the Five Great Wisdom Kings who protect the Five Wisdom Buddhas. Each of these Buddhas represents one of the five types of wisdom characterizing a mind purified of disturbing emotions, such as desire, fear, and anger. Aizen’s body is red, and he has six arms. He has a flaming mandorla, or body halo, and sits upon a lotus supported by a vase from which flaming, wish-fulfilling jewels flow freely.