Preview
Document Type
Image
Publication Date
11-1-1991
Abstract
Kômoku-ten, Guardian King of the West Japanese, c. 1000 C.E. carved wood with traces of pigment Gift of Arthur E. Klauser '45, 1991.11.136a-b
Recommended Citation
Museum, Emison, "Kômoku-ten, Guardian King of the West" (1991). Shidzuo Iikubo '23 Asian Art Gallery. 12, Scholarly and Creative Work from DePauw University.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/iikubo/12
COinS
Comments
Kômoku-ten, Guardian of the West Literally meaning “wide-eyed” or “expansive vision,” Kōmokuten sees through evil (“suffering” in Buddhism), punishes it, and encourages enlightenment within others as well. He is often depicted with a scroll in one hand and writing brush in the other, but is portrayed here with a pilgrim’s staff adorned with fly-whisks, used to frighten or brush away insects, snakes, and tiny animals to ensure that the user does not accidentally kill any life form, following Buddhist law. With this staff, Kōmoku-ten shows others the way toward Enlightenment by example.