Fudō Myōō and Two Attendants 1336 - 1388

This is "Fudō Myōō and Two Attendants", made by Ryūshū Shūtaku sometime in the 14th century. It is a hanging scroll, made with ink, color, and gold on silk. Notice the extraordinary degree of labor involved in producing this painting. From the preparation of the silk ground to the grinding of pigments and the delicate application of gold leaf, the artist’s hand is everywhere. This is work that only a highly trained artisan could accomplish, reflecting a lifetime of devoted practice. The subject, too, embodies a kind of labor – that of spiritual discipline. Fudō Myōō is a wrathful deity, who uses the sword and the rope to cut through delusion and bind up evil. The meticulous detail and rich materials amplify this sense of intense purpose, a testament to the interconnectedness of material craft and spiritual endeavor. Looking closely at the layers of meaning and making in a work like this reminds us not to separate the history of art from that of craft; they are intimately bound together.