Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō
Unidentified artist
An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art
Veneration of the bodhisattva Jizō (Sanskrit: Kshitagarbha) became widespread during the Kamakura period. Among the iconographies associated with Jizō that originated in this period is this one, in which he manifests in the guise of a monk and rushes through the air to aid the suffering, especially those in hell. Derived from images of the Buddha Amida (Sanskrit: Amitābha) descending to welcome and escort a dying believer to his Pure Land, this painting portrays Jizō surfing the sky on a bank of cloud, his feet upon lotus pedestals. His monk’s robe is decorated with intricate patterns of cut gold. He carries a wishfulfilling jewel and a golden staff with six jangling rings, to announce his arrival.
Asian Art
An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.