Extermination of Evil

JAPAN; Heian period

These five paintings, originally parts of a single scroll that was later split into pieces, illustrate deities punishing and subduing demons. Paintings on this theme began to appear in China between the Late Tang period (846–907) and Five Dynasties (907–960), and in Japan during the Heian period (794–1185). The five paintings depict the God of Heavenly Punishment, Cadana Gandharva, Divine Insect, Demon Queller, and Vaisravana, Heavenly King of the North. Painted during the 12th century, the pictures were listed as a National Treasure in 1985.
The painting of Vaisravana is based on the “Chapter on Dharani” in the Lotus Sutra, in which he is described as a protector of the sutra and those who recite it. In the lower left section of the painting, a seated practitioner is shown contemplating the sutra. Wearing armor, the mighty Vaisravana stands on clouds above the practitioner, warding off winged demons with a bow.
Cadana Gandharva, one of the Eight Classes of Dharma Protectors, is known to protect children from 15 kinds of evil demons. Here, Cadana Gandharva has wide eyes and bites his lower lip, giving him a fierce appearance. He wears a helmet decorated with the horned head of a beast, and holds a trident that pierces the severed heads of demons and animals. Headless bodies are scattered below.