FOUR PAINTINGS OF GUARDIAN DEITIES FROM THE GROUP OF THE JÛNI-TEN

Description:

Japan, Edo period, 17th/ 18th ct,
Je 82 x 34 cm R.
Depicting Taishakuten with vajra and lotus blossom, Enma-ten with a human skull on top of a staff, the four-headed Bonten (the fourth head not visible here) and Chiten with a flower bowl, ink, colours and a little gold on paper, matted, framed under glass.
Old Swiss private collection, assembled in the 1970's and 80's
These four deities ar part of the Jûni-ten, the twelve guardian deities of esoteric Buddhism, representing the twelve directions. Taishakuten and Enma-ten stand for the east and the south, Bonten und Chiten for top (sky) and bottom (earth). In painting, the twelve deities are each represented on a scroll, standing and with head surrounded by a halo and usually with Sanskrit character within a large disc in the upper portion of the painting
Partly losses and minor damages, rest.