East Asian Art Deer Mandala Made in Japan, AsiaEdo Period (1615-1868), 17th century Artist/maker unknown, Japanese Color on silk; mounted as a hanging scroll Currently not on view 2005-145-1 |
Purchased with the Hollis Fund for East Asian Art Acquisitions, the J. Stogdell Stokes Fund, and the George W.B. Taylor Fund, 2005LabelDeer are considered to be the sacred messengers of Shinto deities. They are often depicted in mandalas such as this one from the Kasuga Shrine, built by the powerful Fujiwara clan in the early eighth century to protect the family and the new capital city, Nara. Here a white stag rides on a cloud, symbolizing his role as a messenger between earth and the gods. On his saddle is a branch of the sacred sakaki tree and a mirror, which, along with the sword and the jewel, is one of the three sacred symbols of Shinto.Social Tags [?]goat picture [x] late kasuga mandara [x] mt. mikasa [x] raigo-like cloud motif [x] [Add Your Own Tags] |
