Standing Taishaku Ten Sculpture

Illustration

James Blake Wiener
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published on 19 December 2017
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This sculpture dates from 10th-century CE Japan and is made of wood with polychrome. It depicts the deity Sakra Devanam Indra (or "Taishaku Ten" in Japanese). This deity may be traced back to Indra, a god of war in ancient India who was alted adopted into Buddhism as a protective deity. Because of these origins, he is usally shown clad in armor, although this unusual rendition is an exception. This specimen is carved from a single, soild piece of wood and characterized by flowing robers that create a "Y" shape around the waist, emphasizing the thickness of the thighs in a distinctive style that was popular in the 10th century CE. (Tokyo National Museum)

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About the Author

James Blake Wiener
James is a writer and former Professor of History. He holds an MA in World History with a particular interest in cross-cultural exchange and world history. He is a co-founder of World History Encyclopedia and formerly was its Communications Director.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Wiener, J. B. (2017, December 19). Standing Taishaku Ten Sculpture. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7781/standing-taishaku-ten-sculpture/

Chicago Style

Wiener, James Blake. "Standing Taishaku Ten Sculpture." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified December 19, 2017. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7781/standing-taishaku-ten-sculpture/.

MLA Style

Wiener, James Blake. "Standing Taishaku Ten Sculpture." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 19 Dec 2017. Web. 22 Feb 2025.

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