Jacob D’Alessandro
Museum Art Assignment
Professor Huntington
April 29th 2014

The Daiitoku Myoo “King of Wisdom” was an important figure to the Heian period of Japan during the late 12th century and followed along with the idea of Buddhism and the continuation of Japanese styled art. During the development of Japan culture the Japanese went through many eras of changes in art and religion that led up and developed the Heian period. These eras were called the Jomon period which dated between 10,500-300 B.C. during this era clay ceramics were used especially in the northeastern portion of Japan, the Yamai period also used clay figurines.
The Kofun Period was different because the “Government had developed centralized and could control the flow of resources from outlying regions to its center near Nara on the island of honshu”(Pearson Richards 5). They establishment of Haji made with a coil and slab technique. In the Asuka period they started importing three colored ware from china. However once Japan developed into the 8th century (Heian period) the establishment of dark color and green ware were seen in Japanese culture art work.
Now what was the Heian period? There were to different era’s of this time the early Heian period and the late Heian era. The earlier stage of the Heian era is characterized by “attempts to the incorporate Chinese influence”(Shoten18). There was a distinct difference in the later Heian era regarding the style of the Japanese art. The works of the early Heian era were dominated by the iconography of Esoteric Buddhism. They were molded around the ideas of religion. It was also focused on the art work of painting “the most valuable specimens of this period are probably the images of Amida and his attendants in Ninn- ji Temple”(shoten22). There are few architectural remains in regards to the Early Heian period.
The late Heian era, which was a few hundred years after the Early Heian era, in this era flourished among “courtiers and the aristocrats”(Shoten 23), Japan began to use its own ways to influence their art and they would liberate themselves from “the mainland influence by naturalizing Chinese styles”(shoten23). The Japanese would focus their works of art on Buddhism which became a great deal of continuity. During this time of Japanese art wooden sculptures they used a technique called Yosegi. Joche was credited for this type of technique which “considered him responsible for the establishing a purely native style” (shoten 25). With this technique they would divided the wood into two parts, then each part was fixed with small pieces of wood which then left the center of the figure hollow.
Yamantaka Daiitoku Myoo “King of Wisdom” was one of the five “Wisdom Kings” Worshipped in the Esoteric Buddhism time. The statue is approximately 87.9 centimeters in height. This is a statue of Daiitoku Myoo, however in this statue, the architect did not depict Daiitoku Myoo with six arms, six legs, and six faces, as Daiitoku Myoo is originally depicted and instead is seated on a pillow instead of a water buffalo. But like most of the art work during the Late Heian Period the statue is made of Cypress which is a type of wood, which was divided to form both the front and the back of the statue, because the figure had multiple faces you should have to examine the statue by walking around it.
Examining the figurine the artist has Daiitoku Myoo in a crossed leg position. This is known as the “lotus Position” which comes from the Indian style “crossed leg” seated on top of a pillow with his hands clamped together with his index fingers together in a mediated state because the Buddhists believed in the power of the mind and body. The way the artist describes the medium and the technique of this work of art is “Japanese cypress with polychrome and gold; split-and-joined construction” The work of art displayed did not have any damage to it because the technique they used was designed to ensure and to prevent the core of the statue from cracking. The artist did not use much color toward the piece but it looks as if they put detail into the surface as if it looks polished and smooth.
Daiitoku Myoo is an important icon of Japanese culture because the main focus of their art was on Buddhism. Daiitoku was worshipped in the Esoteric Buddhism as the manifestation of the wrath of Dainichi. The Japanese in the Heian period had many works of art regarding the wisdom gods. Daiitoku being introduced to their work of statues in the 12th century.
This work of art can be compared to many of the works of art that were featured in the course. Such as the works of art that focus on the kings of the Egyptian. The representation of this is that the ”Wisdom King” is seen as being all mighty and worshipped just as the Pharaohs of Egypt were. In such a way they would use many ways to employ as many different way to represent the figurine for example the statue of Daiitoku Myoo has multiple arms and legs however it was not shown in this statue.
In conclusion during the late and early times of the Heian era this start to develop a change from Chinese art to their own style which was a representation of Buddhism and no matter the type of figure they used the same style to represent them such as using the same technique to represent “Daiitoku Myoo” even though he was an strong part of the religion and culture of Japan.

Bibliography
“A pictorial encyclopedia of the Oriental arts japan: Crown publishers inc New York print.”
“Janson H.W History of art, New York, Harry n Abrams 1977 print”
“Richard Pearson. Ceramic treasure of Japan. archaeology: a magazine dealing with the antiquily of the world 62 november 1990”