18th C. Japanese Wood Figure - Bodhisattva Marishiten

East Asia, Japan, later Edo Period, ca. 18th to early 19th century. Wow! An incredible hand-carved wood bodhisattva, Marishiten (Marishi, Marici), worshipped by Japanese warriors from the early 9th century. Here, Marishi is depicted standing atop an open lotus, which is perched on a dramatic tiered, gilded base that is made to look like a mountaintop. Marishi wears sumptuous robes, painted with circular motifs and red, blue, and green; a thick white belt hangs down the front of the garments. The bodhisattva has eight arms, two held close to the body, the other six spread outward. When originally made, this sculpture would have had a bronze implement in each of these hands, but now only two remain. A bronze openwork halo is behind Marishi's head and large headdress, which features another head. Wonderfully painted and ornate! Size: 7.75" L x 11.1" W x 27.5" H (19.7 cm x 28.2 cm x 69.8 cm)

Marishiten was the god/goddess of the warrior class, prosperity, and entertainers in Japan. They could be depicted as either male or female, sometimes with multiple heads, often with multiple arms holding weapons. The famous military leader and first shogun of the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542 to 1616 CE) was said to carry a small wooden Marishi charm with him at all times.

During the Edo Period, Japan was closed entirely to foreigners aside from the Dejima trading post; it enjoyed a 250 year period of economic and political stability when Japanese culture flourished with almost no inputs from abroad. Edo Period Japan creativity came mainly from the middle classes of artisans and merchants; although scholars often describe the period as secular, there were artisans who devoted themselves to creating religious art, such as shrines and wooden statues like this one. With economic stability came prosperity, and many people in Edo society were able to take pilgrimages to Buddhist shrines, encouraging religious interest and the replication of Buddhist objects in the household. This beautiful sculpture probably belonged to one of these pilgrims.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hawaii, USA collection

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#145115
Condition Report: The figure and the base were made separately and it is clear where they are joined together as it is a bit loose. One of the hands is missing. Small chips, nicks, and scratches on surface, with fine remaining pigment as shown, but some areas of lost paint and gilt. Most of the bronze implements are lost, as are part of the bronze flames around the face. The bronze that remains has dark patina.