Vaisravana

JAPAN; Heian period

The sculpture was carved in the 11th century and is listed as an Important Cultural Property. It differs from most other statues of Vaisravana, since it was modeled on the one kept at Kyoto’s Toji Temple, which originally came from China.
Vaisravana wears a high headdress that is decorated with a phoenix at the front. The figure stands on the shoulders of the earth deity and crushes demons on both sides. A long robe is worn beneath a breast-plate decorated with animal heads. The raised arms are protected by ridged gauntlets and hold a pagoda in the left hand and a vajra in the right hand. The armor gives way to chain mail and boots protected by shin guards. The original bright colors have faded.