Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Tsuka with Fudô Myô-ô and Kongara Dôji
(Japanese Military Armor)
The menuki on the front of the hilt depicts the deity Fudô Myô-ô, the Immovable One. Behind him is a mandorla of flames. Fudô Myô-ô is one of the five Kings of Light who protect the Buddhist faithful. His fierce expression is intended to scare away evil spirits. He is almost always shown with a sword in his right hand and a rope in his left hand. The menuki on the reverse is the Sanskrit syllable "ham" which indicates Fudô Myô-ô. His acolyte Kongara Dôji appears on the kashira. Another acolyte, Seitaka Dôji, appears on the fuchi. This is part of a mounted set in which all the pieces are related to Fudô Myô-ô.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acqistion unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan (Place of Origin)
Measurements
L: 4 9/16 in. (11.6 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
51.1223.2B