two figures against silver leaf background; both figures demon-like with teeth; figure on left holds two fans; figure on right has red skin and is pouring water from two jars

Gods of Wind and Rain [left of the pair Gods of Thunder, Wind, and Rain], early 20th century

expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

The gods of wind and thunder stem from Hindu deities that were assimilated into the Buddhist pantheon and later merged with indigenous Shintō personifications of natural elements. In this pair of folding screens, the Thunder God, at right, is identified by his red skin and drums, which he beats to create thunderclaps. In the left screen, the Wind God appears as he typically does, as a horned, gargoyle-like creature with green skin and a cloth sack from which he unleashes blasts of wind. Here, however, Mano Kyōtei also equipped him with a pair of fans. Another departure from established iconography is the addition of the Rain God, who carries flasks of water and is crowned with a dragon, a mythical beast traditionally associated with rain in East Asia. This innovative interpretation established these screens as Kyōtei’s masterpiece.

(2013.29.7.1-.2)

Details
Title
Gods of Wind and Rain [left of the pair Gods of Thunder, Wind, and Rain]
Artist Life
1874 - 1934
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.29.7.1
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

two figures against silver leaf background; both figures demon-like with teeth; figure on left holds two fans; figure on right has red skin and is pouring water from two jars