EditorialBust of Hevajra, Angkor period, late 12th?early 13th century, Cambodia, Stone, H. 52 in. (132.1 cm); W. 29 in. (73.7 cm), Sculpture, This colossal bust of the Esoteric Buddhist god Hevajra comes from the ruins of the ancient site of Angkor in northwest...
EditorialKongoyasha Myoo, ??????, Heian period (794?1185), 12th century, Japan, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Image: 28 3/8 x 21 1/4 in. (72.1 x 54 cm), Paintings, Kongoyasha Myoo is one of the Five Great Guardian Kings in Esoteric Buddhism. His ferocious aspec...
EditorialAkshobhya, the Transcendent Buddha of the East, Thakuri period, 12th century, Nepal (Kathmandu Valley), Copper with gold paint, H. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm); W. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm); D. 4 in. (10.2 cm); Wt. 4 lbs (1.8 kg), Sculpture, Akshobhya is one of the f...
EditorialVairochana, the Supreme Transcendent Buddha, Thakuri period, 11th?12th century, Nepal (Kathmandu Valley), Gilt-copper alloy with gold paint and blue pigment, H. 7 1/2 in. (19 cm); W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); D. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); Wt. 6 lbs (2.7 cm), Scul...
EditorialFigure of Aizen Myo-o, Kamakura or Muromachi period, 14th-15th century. Aizen is one of the five MYO-o, "Kings of Light" protectors of the esoteric Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. Aizen has six arms, each holding one of his attributes: bow, arrow, t...
EditorialSir Thomas Brown, English polymath and writer on science, medicine, religion and the esoteric, died 1682. Copperplate engraving from William Richardson's Portraits Illustrating Granger's Biographical History of England, London, 1792?1812. James Granger...
Editorial???????, The Four Deities of Mount Koya, Muromachi period (1392?1573), 16th century, Japan, Hanging scroll; ink, color and gold on silk, Image: 40 3/16 ? 19 1/2 in. (102 ? 49.5 cm), Paintings, The four deities of Mount Koya sit on elaborately decorated...
EditorialAkshobhya, the Transcendent Buddha of the East, 9th century, Pakistan (Northwest Frontier Province, Swat Valley), Bronze with silver and copper overlays, H. 9 1/2 (24.1 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm); D. 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm), Sculpture, Akshobhya is one of the...
EditorialSeated Vairochana, the Transcendent Buddha of the Center, Central or Eastern Javanese period, ca. first half of the 10th century, Indonesia (Java), Bronze, H. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm), Sculpture, Vairochana is the presiding deity in the group of five Transc...
EditorialPrajnaparamita, the Buddhist Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom, Sailendra style, 9th century, Indonesia, Bronze with traces of lacquer, H. 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm); W. 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm); D. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm), Sculpture, Esoteric Buddhist deities were fav...
EditorialKobori Enshu designed and built Villa Katsura and its gardens for prince Toshito in 1590. The villa is a triumph of simplicity and precision, a "mirror image of the esoteric Japanese mind".