Standing Ksitigarbha
Unknown Artist
1300–1350
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
Dimensions
painting: 103 × 43 cm · mounted: 187.9 × 62.2 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Korean Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
2025.141
About this artwork
This fourteenth-century hanging scroll depicts Kṣitigarbha (지장보살), the Bodhisattva of Salvation in the guise of a youthful Buddhist monk. Clad in simple monastic robes, he holds a staff to announce his presence and a wish-fulfilling jewel symbolizing his vow to relieve suffering. Kṣitigarbha is believed to descend into the underworld to guide and liberate tormented souls trapped in purgatory. His compassionate mission made him a key figure in both East Asian visual and ritual tradition.