The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Aizen Myōō

Aizen Myōō

1300s
(1185–1333) to Nanbokuchō period (1336–92)
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
Painting: 102 x 60.5 cm (40 3/16 x 23 13/16 in.); Mounted: 183.2 x 80.3 cm (72 1/8 x 31 5/8 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2017.101
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Desires are mentally deposited into the mouth of Aizen's lion so that they can be consumed.

Description

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.
  • ?–2017
    (London Gallery, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2017–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Kanazawa Bunko. Aizen Myōō: ai to ikari no hotoke : tokubetsu-ten Kōshō Bosatsu Eison Kamakura gekō nanahyaku gojū-nen kinen I. [S.I.]: Kanagawa Kenritsu Kanazawa Bunko, 2011. cat. no. 10
    Von Spee, Clarissa. “Acquisition Highlights: Asian Art.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 58. no. 2 (March/April 2018): 10-11. Reproduced: P. 10; Mentioned: P. 10, 11.
  • Recent Acquisitions. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 17-June 7, 2018).
  • {{cite web|title=Aizen Myōō|url=false|author=|year=1300s|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2017.101