Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist

Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist

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Title: Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, Circa 1250–1333. A Painting of the Japanese Buddhist Guardian Deity of Water, attributed to a Kamakura Period Artist
Author: Attributed to Shiba Sonkai
Condition: Very Good

A Kamakura Period, mid 13th to early 14th Century painting of Suiten of the Twelve Devas, or Juniten, attributed to the artist Shiba Sonkai. In this painting, Suiten is given a fair and graceful appearance, adorned in vibrant garments, blue skinned, with a ring of flamed around him. With a blade in one hand, a snake noose in the other, and a crown of serpents, he is truly represented as a water spirit here.

It should be noted that the Twelve Devas are Hindu gods that were since incorporated into Japaese Esoteric Buddhis, so in this case, Suiten’s Hindu equivalent is in fact, Varuna, one of the earliest deities of the Hindu gods, and lord of the Sky, Order, Truth, Water and Magic.

A Buddhist painter of the Kamakura period, Sonkai belonged to the Kasuga Painting School in Nara. He was commissioned by Kofuku-ji Temple and Todai- ji Temple and produced many paintings, among which included a notable folding screen depicting a sumo wrestling ceremony.

It should be noted that the painting itself bears no inscription, and the attribution to Shiba Sonkai is owing largely to the inscriptions on the box accompanying it. However, the style of the Kasuga school is characterized by thin lines, flat surfaces, and bright colors such as orange-red, deep blue and green. So, this painting does strike off quite a few of those points.

The painting has been neatly mounted onto a brocade decorated kakejiku (hanging scroll), with jikusaki (knobs). There is a wooden box to accompany it, preserving the scroll.

One painting mounted on a kakejiku (hanging scroll), 179 x 57 cm full size, 91 x 39 cm main painting

This painting is in very good shape, with a few creases and paint faded to the painting.

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