The Fourth King of Hell

late 1300s

Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold ink on silk

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In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland — check current display status with the museum.

View at clevelandart.org ↗︎Plan a visit ↗︎

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

As the concept of salvation became increasingly more emphasized in Buddhist schools in medieval East Asia, the gruesome depiction of various hells was given an important role: to promote Buddhist ethics. In the Buddhist infernal otherworld, the Ten Kings of Hell serve as judges of the deceased to determine their fates, including the type and severity of punishment.

Source ↗︎

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