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KOBAYASHI KIYOCHIKA. The Fury of Monk Raigo

The Fury of Monk Raigo. Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika (Japanese, 1847-1915). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: Image: 42 1/2 × 31 in. (108 × 78.7 cm) Overall with mounting: 84 7/8 × 37 1/8 in. (215.6 × 94.3 cm) Overall with knobs: 84 7/8 × 39 11/16 in. (215.6 × 100.8 cm). Date: ca. 1900. Kobayashi Kiyochika's painting captures the intensity and drama of the quasi-historical incident of Monk Raigo (1002-1084) flying into a rage during a goma-e, or esoteric Buddhist fire ritual. Raigo was furious that Emperor Shirakawa backed out of a promise to allow the monk's temple to conduct ordination ceremonies after the monk had performed magical rituals to ensure the safe birth of a royal heir. Fudo Myoo (Sanskrit: Acala), the Buddhist protective deity at the center of this fire ritual, here seems to arise from the flames. Usually Fudo Myoo, the "Immovable Wisdom King," is shown with a fearsome visage (as in the statue on display nearby), yet Kiyochika playfully gives the statue an expression of surprised horror at the monk's temper tantrum.
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Author:
KOBAYASHI KIYOCHIKA (1847-1915)
Title:
The Fury of Monk Raigo
Caption:
The Fury of Monk Raigo. Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika (Japanese, 1847-1915). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: Image: 42 1/2 × 31 in. (108 × 78.7 cm) Overall with mounting: 84 7/8 × 37 1/8 in. (215.6 × 94.3 cm) Overall with knobs: 84 7/8 × 39 11/16 in. (215.6 × 100.8 cm). Date: ca. 1900. Kobayashi Kiyochika's painting captures the intensity and drama of the quasi-historical incident of Monk Raigo (1002-1084) flying into a rage during a goma-e, or esoteric Buddhist fire ritual. Raigo was furious that Emperor Shirakawa backed out of a promise to allow the monk's temple to conduct ordination ceremonies after the monk had performed magical rituals to ensure the safe birth of a royal heir. Fudo Myoo (Sanskrit: Acala), the Buddhist protective deity at the center of this fire ritual, here seems to arise from the flames. Usually Fudo Myoo, the "Immovable Wisdom King," is shown with a fearsome visage (as in the statue on display nearby), yet Kiyochika playfully gives the statue an expression of surprised horror at the monk's temper tantrum.
Technique/material:
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold paint on silk
Period:
Meiji period (1868-1912)
Museum:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
Credit:
Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Releases:
Model: No - Property: No
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Image size:
3151 x 4200 px | 37.9 MB
Print size:
26.7 x 35.6 cm | 10.5 x 14.0 in (300 dpi)
Keywords:
ASIA • ASIAN ART • GOLD • HANGING SCROLL; INK, COLOR, AND GOLD PAINT ON SILK • HANGING SCROLLS • INK • JAPAN • KOBAYASHI KIYOCHIKA • MEIJI PERIOD (1868-1912) • METAL • METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, USA • PAINTINGS • SCROLL PAINTINGS • SCROLLS • SILK • TEXTILES: SILK