Japanese Wood, Plaster & Lacquer Jikokuten Mask 持国天 Traditional Oni Tengu Devil
Vintage Japanese Jikokuten (持国天) Shitenno guardian mask, likely 1970s–80s, made using traditional composite techniques (wood, plaster and lacquer).
Depicts one of the Four Heavenly Kings (Shitennō), protective Buddhist deities who guard the eastern direction. Jikokuten is shown in his traditional fierce expression and armour, intended to ward off evil and protect sacred space.
The mask has strong visual presence with layered opaque colouring and an expressive face. There are minor chips and age-related wear to the lacquer surface, consistent with age.
A maker’s seal is present to the reverse.
Ideal for:
25cm x 20cm x 9cm
488g
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In Japan, Jikokuten (持国天) is commonly depicted with a fierce expression. He is clad in armor, often brandishing a sword or trident spear while trampling a jaki.
In the hierarchy of the Buddhist pantheon, the celestial beings (Skt: deva; Jpn: ten-bu) are ranked beneath the enlightened buddhas (Jpn: butsu), the compassionate bodhisattvas (Jpn: bosatsu), and the wrathful wisdom kings (Jpn: myо̄о̄). They do not, however, fulfill a lesser role; in fact, it is their task to protect the Buddhist cosmos and its divine denizens, as well as the mortal creatures who remain in the cycle of rebirth.
Some of the celestial beings belong to a subgrouping called dharmapala, literally “guardians of the teaching.” They ensure Buddhist practitioners do not stray from the teachings of the Buddha by intimidation and sometimes, if the need arises, by violence. Close adherence to and a deeper understanding of Buddhist practice may eventually bring the dharmapala under a devotee’s control.
Within the dharmapala are the lokapala, or “guardians of the directions,” some of which were adapted from the Tibetan pre-Buddhist Bon tradition, while others, namely the guardians of the four directions, were carried over from Indian traditions.
The Four Guardians, known in Japan as the shitennо̄ (Four Celestial Kings), were some of the earliest recognized deities on the archipelago following the introduction of Buddhism in the mid-sixth century. They were especially important to Prince Shotoku (574–622)—an early patron of the new religion and instrumental in its establishment in Japan—who commissioned the construction of Shitennо̄-ji (Temple of the Four Celestial Kings) following a resounding victory over the anti-Buddhism Mononobe clan.
Jikokuten rarely, if ever, appears apart from the other members of the shitennо̄. Like his counterparts, Jikokuten is dressed in Chinese-style yoroi armor and wields weapons of war to fend off evil. His face is fearsome and intimidating to add to his wrathful demeanor, and he often tramples demons (Jpn: jyaki) beneath his feet.
The guardian king of the east appears is multiple forms of art in Japan, including dedicatory art found in temples and house shrines. His likeness can be found with the other shitennо̄ in an Asuka period (538–710) tomb painting. He also appears in the outer section of the Taizо̄kai mandara (Mandala of the Womb World) and, among others, in the mandala of the Ten Realms. The earliest depiction of him in sculptural form, and which still exists today, can be found in the kondou building of Hо̄ryū-ji—it dates to the seventh century and is made of painted wood.
Another beautifully dynamic sculpture, constructed from dry lacquer, is in the collection of Tо̄-ji, dating to the early Heian period (794–1185). In an uncommon triad, Jikokuten attends to Amida (Skt: Amitabha), ruler of the western paradise, with Zо̄chо̄ten.