Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Kings of Hells: Leaf 29
Unknown Artist
1200s
Medium
Album, ink on paper
Dimensions
34.7 × 39.1 cm · sheet: 34.2 × 38.3 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou and Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange)
Accession Number
2004.1.29
About this artwork
This leaf belongs to the album’s second series of narratives, Ten Kings of Hells. It demonstrates a Chinese-Buddhist approach in which the netherworld is divided into ten realms, each ruled by one of these kings. This particular version portrays the king in a benevolent guise, though his identity remains unclear. He holds an ivory plaque, is draped in a robe, and wears a hat that sports two slender side arms—similar to the headgear worn by Song dynasty emperors. A vertical scroll hangs to his le...