Explore

Achala Vidyaraja (Fudō Myōō)

Late 12th century

Japan

Cypress wood with traces of pigment and cut gold leaf

H. 19 1/4 x W. 11 1/2 x D. 10 in. (48.9 x 29.21 x 25.4 cm)

Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.201

Licensing inquiries

Fudō Myōō ("Immovable Wisdom King") is the most important of a group of five deities, each of whom represents the wrathful energies of a Buddha and has the power to convince the reluctant to accept the Buddha's teachings. Fudō Myōō is an emanation of Dainichi (Vairochana), the Cosmic Buddha. This image of Fudō Myōō was once part of a group of five sculptures and would have been placed in the center of the other four myōō ("wisdom kings"). Fudō Myōō's dark skin, fierce expression, fangs, and bulging eyes indicate his power to vanquish all demons. His sword cuts through delusion and the lasso he carries pulls even the most wayward beings toward the path of salvation. The statue was made of Japanese cypress (hinoki) using the joined woodblock method of construction. In this technique, different parts -- such as the head, hands, feet, and torso -- were carved from separate pieces of wood, the head and torso were hollowed out, and then the pieces were assembled. After joining, the sculpture was covered with a gessolike material and painted and decorated with cut gold and silver leaf (kirikane).