Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Ten Kings of Hell

KOREA; Goryeo dynasty

This 14th century artwork is one of the few Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) Buddhist paintings kept in Germany. The central figure, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, has a large round face and narrowed eyes. The Bodhisattva wears a necklace, earrings, and a delicately patterned monastic robe. The right hand holds a wish-fulfilling jewel, and the left hand rests on the left knee.
Just below the throne, the monk Daoming, with dark skin, is shown on the right, with his nimbus partly encircling Ksitigarbha’s left hand. On the left, a ghost king is depicted dressed in the robes of a civil servant. The Four Heavenly Kings stand on the far left and right beside Daoming and Poisonless Ghost King. Just below them, there are two Bodhisattvas wearing decorative headdresses.In front of the Bodhisattvas, the Ten Kings of Hell and two judges are shown. In the center at the bottom of the painting, a lion with a curled mane has its head turned backwards and mouth wide open.