Collection record · Objects & craft
Thunder God (Raijin)
The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated 1300s. Recorded culture or place: Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333).
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Thunder God (Raijin)
- Date
- 1300s
- Culture / origin
- Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333)
- Materials and technique
- wood with traces of gesso and red and black pigment
- Dimensions
- Overall: 66.7 cm (26 1/4 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1972.64
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
The Thunder (Raijin) and Wind (Fujin) gods first appeared in early Buddhist art in China and Japan and were based on the popular imagery in India that was derived from the life of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. They were shown among a group of demon-monsters flying through the sky above the meditating Shakyamuni in an attempt to frighten away his concentration. Raijin is surrounded by a ring of small drums struck by a stick held in his hand so that he is always accompanied by a thunderous noise. A metal clasp protruding from this sculptures' back indicates that a ring of drums was once attached to the Cleveland Raijin. The matching sculpture, Fujin, is in the Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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