Cleveland Museum of Art

Aizen Myōō

Date

1300s

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

Culture

Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333) to Nanbokuchō period (1336–92)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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

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