Marishi-Ten Riding a Boar

Catalog note / 解説

Marishi-ten (Sk. Marichi) is a deity of the Esoteric pantheon. Although Marishi-ten may ultimately derive from the ancient Indian goddess Vajravarahi, she/he underwent considerable changes in East Asia. In China, where Marishi-ten appears less commonly in art, she is a female stellar deity and special protector of Buddhist nuns. Marishi-ten is a more popular subject in the arts of both Japan and Tibet. She was introduced into Japan at the same time as the Shingon and Tendai Esoteric doctrines and became the goddess of war and victory. Sometimes she took on a male form, as seen in both Marishi-ten prints on display (see the following print). (from Pathway exhibition 1/29/08-)