Dakiniten, the Buddhist Manifestation of the Shinto Deity Inari, late 14th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Ink and color on silkexpand_more
Gift of the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Cultureexpand_more 2013.29.18
Not on Viewexpand_more
Buddhism officially entered Japan in the mid-500s, and by the 800s, Japanese Buddhists had developed a theory that kami, native gods, were incarnations of Buddhist deities. The figure of Dakiniten in this scroll exemplifies Buddhism’s ready assimilation of native gods. In Hinduism, a ḍākinī is a female spirit or deity who eats the flesh and heart of humans nearing death. In Japan, the deity entered the Buddhist canon as a converted Hindu goddess, Dakiniten. Dakiniten was further conflated with the Shinto kami (deity) Inari, who was associated with abundance, especially of rice. Here, she is shown riding a white fox, another representation of Inari. The fox’s legs are wrapped in snakes, a reference to another converted Hindu goddess, Benzaiten.
Details
- Title
- Dakiniten, the Buddhist Manifestation of the Shinto Deity Inari
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.29.18
- Curator Approved
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