Chapter 4: Japanese Buddhist Iconography (a Comparative Study)

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iconographic traits, such as, the god should be red in
complextion, have a tuft of hairs set up in such a manner
that it looks like a crown. He holds a stick in his right
hand, and his left hand with folded palm is held against
the waist. The god is depicted in angry mood.
Kangō-kai-shichi-shu describes the complexion of the
god as golden. Interestingly, the Visnudharmottara too
mentions the colour of the god as golden.
When Indra and Brahma appear in Japanese art outside
Tantrism they usually are regarded as representatives of all
the devas in general. In many cases the devas were carved
on the model of the features of Indra and Brahma and the
devas were given the attributes of Indra or Brahmā. In this
manner, Indra has had a widespread influence throughout the
history of Buddhism in Japan.
Examples of Taishaku-ten images in Japan are numerous.
The image of the god in the Saidai-ji Temple at Nara is seen
painted as one in the group of the Jūni-ten. The deity is
flanked by two attendants who seem to be tiny as compared
to the feature of Taishaku-ten, The vehicle or mount
Airāvata is omitted in some cases while he is depicted as
standing erect, but without any attendants.
One fine example of Taishaku-ten is preserved in
the Tō-ji temple, Kyoto. Here the deity is represented as