Divine General
On View In:
Gallery 220
Artist:   Joga  
Title:   Divine General  
Date:   Early Kamakura  
Medium:   Wood  
Dimensions:   29 in. (73.66 cm)  
Credit Line:   The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund  
Location:   Gallery 220  

This amusingly rigid figure represents one of the Twelve Divine Generals (Jūni Shinshō) who attend and protect Yakushi, the Buddha of Healing. From the eleventh century on, the generals became associated with the twelve animals of the Asian zodiac. Although difficult to identify, the animal here may be a dog, as one seems to be poking its head from the warrior's curious, bag-like cap. Based on an inscription on the underside of the figure, it is attributed to Joga, an artist associated with the famous Kei school active in Nara during Japan's Kamakura period (1185-1333).

Artist/Creator(s)     
Name:   Joga  
Nationality:   Japanese  
Life Dates:   Japanese  
 

Object Description  
  
Inscriptions:    
Classification:   Sculpture  
Physical Description:   One of the twelve generals of Yakushi Buddha, with strong remains of original pigments. Original wood stand  
Creation Place:   Asia, Japan, , ,  
Accession #:   62.22  
Owner:   The Minneapolis Institute of Arts