Emma - o, King and Judge of Hell
16th century
Maker Unknown
Asian Art
Buddhists believe in reincarnation, but many schools of Buddhism hold that a sinful person is punished for a period of time between death and rebirth in one of several levels of Hell. Emma-ō, a powerful and fearsome figure, decides the fate of the deceased, sometimes singly and sometimes as part of a group of ten Hell Judges. The image of Emma-ō is a focus for prayers from the living, who ask for leniency for their recently departed loved ones.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Formatted Medium
- Wood with gesso and traces of polychrome and inlaid glass eyes.
- Locations
- Place made: Japan
- Period
- Muromachi Period
- Dimensions
- 19 x 18 1/4 x 13 1/4 in. (48.3 x 46.4 cm)
- Departments
- Asian Art
- Accession Number
- 79.277
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. George Mann
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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![Photo of collection object [Untitled] (Sculpture)](https://du1veq5hgyp3c.cloudfront.net/art/bkm_222089-m.webp)
