The Bija A, representing Vairocana (Dainichi)
late 14th-early 15th century
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1898.509a-d
Tags
About this artwork
In Japanese Buddhist art, characters representing syllables of the Indian Sanskrit language occasionally symbolized Buddhist deities. Sanskrit syllables, whether written, painted, or spoken, derived their power from their historical association with India, the homeland of the Historical Buddha and the site of his original teachings. In this image, the syllable "a" is enthroned on a lotus, a Buddhist symbol of purity, and surrounded by a circle representing light. This syllable was the symbol for...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...