handscroll(now framed); painting BM-1925-0218-0.1

Period:Unknown Production date:12th-13th century
Materials:silk
Technique:painted
Subjects:buddha deity
Dimensions:Height: 27.30 centimetres Length: 109 centimetres

Description:
Handscroll, now mounted and framed. This short handscroll depicts the encounter between Śākyamuni and Hārītī. The painting shows Śākyamuni at the opening of the scroll, on the right, seated amidst Buddhist and Daoist deities viewing numerous demons trying to raise the bowl with a hoist and tackle. Other spirits and gods, including the Mother of Lightning and the Duke of Thunder, lend their support to Hārītī, who stands at the centre. In the ‘Samyuktaratna-piṭaka’ the Mother of Demons ‘exhausted her powers’ attempting to free the child, capitulated to the Buddha, and agreed to obey his precepts. Painted in ink and colours on silk.
IMG


Comments:Zwalf 1985This short handscroll depicts the encounter between Śākyamuni and Hārītī (Chinese Guizi mu), Mother of Demons, when the Buddha imprisoned her favourite son under his alms bowl in order to make her experience the anguish she caused humans by devouring their children. Similar to six others, the painting shows Śākyamuni at the opening of the scroll, on the right, seated amidst Buddhist and Daoist deities viewing numerous demons trying to raise the bowl with a hoist and tackle. Other spirits and gods, including the Mother of Lightning and the Duke of Thunder, lend their support to Hārītī, who stands at the centre. In the ‘Samyuktaratna-piṭaka’ the Mother of Demons ‘exhausted her powers’ attempting to free the child, capitulated to the Buddha, and agreed to obey his precepts. These Chinese pictorial versions of the story are notable for equating Hārītī’s powers with a legion of demons, depicted graphically and rather wittily.