Gatten+(Chandra)

= **Gatten (Candra) (One of the Twelve Devas) – Colors and Gold on a Silk Hanging Scroll** =

Artwork Identification: Title: Gatten (Candra) (One of the Twelve Devas) Artist(s): Unknown Date: 1127 Period: Late Heian Period Country of Origin: Japan Cultural/Ethnic Affiliation: Japanese Medium: Hanging scroll, color and gold on silk Dimensions: Height 144.0 cm Width 127.0 cm Museum/Collection: Kyoto National Museum Accession Number: Unknown Current Location and Manner of Display: Kyoto National Museum Provenance: Unknown

Descriptive Analysis:

This is a Japanese painting of the Hindu moon god Gatten; also called Candra in Sanskrit. In this painting he appears in the form of a sitting bodhisattva with two attendants on either side of him who are also sitting next to him. The attendant on the left side of Gatten is holding a half moon with a rabbit. Both attendants have blue halos around their heads. Gatten takes the typical form of a bodhisattva by having stretched earlobes, a bun of hair on his head, a flaming halo around his head, his legs crossed over each other, and his hands in the welcoming gesture: with his right arm bent and raised so that his right hand is in front of his chest and with his left arm bent downward so that his left hand is in front of his lap. The five colors that are used in this hanging scroll are a fiery red, turquoise blue, light tan, darker tan and brown. The pants of the attendants and part of the mat that Gatten is sitting on are red as well as the inner most part of the halo surrounding Gatten’s head, part of his robe, and the flames around the halo on his head. All of the figures in the scroll painting have light tan bodies that match the second –most layer of Gatten’s halo. As mentioned before, the attendant’s halos are blue as well as the circular mats they are sitting on and the sashes around their waists. The mat that Gatten is sitting on also has a blue ring on it and the third –most inner ring on his halo is also the same blue; both these match part of the sash that Gatten is wearing. The backround of the hanging scroll is a dark brown. The details of the painting such as the small details of the faces and the fingers of the hands have faded considerably over time as well as some of the colors painted on the silk scroll.

Formal and Contextual Analysis:

As mentioned before, this is a painting of the Hindu moon god Gatten. Gatten was an Indian god but was later adopted as one of the Twelve Deities of Esoteric Buddhism (esoteric Buddhism is generally known as Mikkyo) and then later was turned into a Buddhist guardian. Mikkyo means “secret teaching” or “secret Buddhism”. It was taken to Japan from China by the priest Kukai, who was given the name Kobo Daishi after his death, around the beginning of the ninth century. Here Gatten appears in the form of a bodhisattva; which is a being that has not experienced enlightenment yet but is destined to become a Buddha. In Buddhism, the word “enlightenment”, which is “bodhi” in Sanskrit, means “awakening” or “realization”. This relates to the phrase “enlightenment” in the Buddhist sense by the fact that “enlightenment” means generally to be awakened to or to realize where suffering comes from and how to stop suffering. A Buddha is one who has achieved enlightenment. This piece of art was painted for the Goshichinichi-no-mishiho (which means Rites of the Latter Seven Days) ceremony, which was held to pray for things like the health of the emperor, prevention of disasters, peace of the nation, and bountiful harvests. The Goshichinichi “latter seven days” refers to the seven days of the second week after the first week of the New Year. The word “Mishiho” is made up of the character “mi”, which shows the importance of the rite, and the characters shiho, which refer to esoteric Buddhism. Every year this ceremony was held at the Shingon-in Hall on the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

Personal Interpretations:

This is a beautiful piece of art. Although there are few colors in this scroll, don’t think that it is a simple one. The intricate designs on the clothing of the figures as well as the minute details of the faces show off how complex making this scroll must have been. The few colors in this hanging scroll may reflect the simple peacefulness that a bodhisattva is supposed to possess. The graceful gestures and expressions on the faces of the figures reflect the inner tranquility of the god Gatten while the flames around his halo reflect his power and passion. References:

Answers.com. “Buddha”. 19 December, 2010 < [] >

Izumi, Takeo. "The Twelve Devas". 9 November, 2010, < [] > (10, January, 1998)

Know Buddhism- The Buddhist Community. “Esoteric Buddism and Buddhist Rituals- Shingon.” 15, December, 2010. < [] > (11, April, 2009)

Kyoto National Museum. "Commentary" on "Gatten (Chandra)". 8 November, 2010, < [] > (2010)

Suite101.com, Prerna Malik.19 December, 2010, < [] > (21, June, 2010)