Advanced Search 
Deities of the mandala of Vajranairatma
Tibetan
Ming dynasty
dated 1479
Medium/Technique
Distemper on cotton
Dimensions
Overall: 199 x 141 cm (78 3/8 x 55 1/2 in.)
Image: 147 x 94.5 cm (57 7/8 x 37 3/16 in.)
Image: 147 x 94.5 cm (57 7/8 x 37 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Chinese and Japanese Special Fund
Accession Number06.1901
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings
DescriptionPainting with decorative borders, mounted in the manner of a Japanese hanging scroll. Would have originally been in thangka format.
From an important documented group of paintings from the Chenghua reign of the Ming dynasty. Blue-skinned Vajranairatma dances at center, upper tier of the painting, holding a vajra, curved knife, a scull cup and a katvanga staff. Red-skinned Kurukulle dances on the moon at the lower left holding a bow and arrow, a gesture of fearlessness, and a katvanga staff. A yellow-skinned goddess dances on the sun, holding a drum, a flaying knife, a scull cup and a katvanga staff. They are surrounded by dancing figures who relate to the Hevajra tantra. Chinese inscription at base of painting includes dates (15th year of the reign).
From an important documented group of paintings from the Chenghua reign of the Ming dynasty. Blue-skinned Vajranairatma dances at center, upper tier of the painting, holding a vajra, curved knife, a scull cup and a katvanga staff. Red-skinned Kurukulle dances on the moon at the lower left holding a bow and arrow, a gesture of fearlessness, and a katvanga staff. A yellow-skinned goddess dances on the sun, holding a drum, a flaying knife, a scull cup and a katvanga staff. They are surrounded by dancing figures who relate to the Hevajra tantra. Chinese inscription at base of painting includes dates (15th year of the reign).
Provenance1906, purchased in Japan by Okakura Kakuzo for the MFA. (Accession Date: December 13, 1906)