Sarasvati Benten 4

A ukiyo-e surimono depiction of Benten this time riding a dragon an uniquely Japanese idea though they have have gotten the idea from Chinese Esoteric Buddhism or Taoism images of dragon riding deities?

If you've found this blog by accident don't forget to view all 4 blogs so you can see the images in sequence.

Sarasvati Benten Three

Now for some Chinese / Japanese images.

I couldn't find a good image of Biancaitian as shes known in China so I've tried to pick Japanese images that show a strong Chinese influence.

Frankly I'm not sure if this first image is modern Chinese or Japanese and it does show a slight manga / anime influence but the goddess is depicted as a princess / lady of rank in Chinese costume.

this second image was painted in  18th century Japan but the artist clearly seems to have modelled his work on an older piece perhaps a badly damaged scroll imported centuries earlier from China a painting that had to be replaced? If you're familiar with both Chinese and Japanese painting the Chinese influence is very strong ... very.

Sarasvati Benten Two

Two More images of Sarasvati

These two images seem to depict the goddess peacock as a cross between a peahen and a gardua bird unless this is a VERY stylized swan or goose or other bird?

From Sarasvati to Benten One

This series of posts will show images of Sarasvati / Benten from across ASIA.

INDIA

Sarasvati or Saraswati is also depicted with a tiger or peacock and known as Shar(a)da in Southern India.

The most consistent feature of depictions of this goddess is her stringed musical instrument often described in English as a lute.

Rough Love

A little experiment in using filters to suggest ink splashs and stroke on a rough absorbent paper

Copyright Julie Vaux 2013

PARROT

Copyright Julie Vaux 2013

 

Another note there seems to be no SinoViet loan word from any Chinese dialects. VET appears to be Austroasiatic.