Probably 15th century
Mural Fragment of Deva from a Buddhist Assembly
Artist/maker unknownVarious deva, or guardian deities, are depicted on this fragment from the outer section of a large mural that once decorated the hall of a Buddhist temple.
Murals representing such figures, richly dressed in costumes and adorned with jewelry, are typical of northern Chinese temples built from the late Yuan (1271–1368) to the early Ming dynasties (1368–1644), when the ruling elite embraced a mix of Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism.
Although there is some loss of color, we can identify several of the deities:
(Far left) The guardian of Buddhist temples and protector of the faith, Weituo (Skanda in Sanskrit), wears a winged helmet. His diamond sword destroys demons and Buddhism’s enemies.
(Center) The Heavenly King of the West brandishes a snake, while the Heavenly King of the North holds an umbrella and stupa/pagoda.
(Right) The protective goddess Mārīcī has three faces—one frontal and two in profile—and multiple arms.
This record is part of an ongoing effort to share accurate and evolving information. If you notice anything we should improve, we welcome your feedback at [email protected]
Images on this site are shared for educational use. For image rights, permissions, or to learn more about image rights and access, email [email protected]