半支迦 Hanshika (Pāñcika)

半支迦 Hanshika (Pāñcika) , 1700s or 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: metal; glass; wood

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 41.5 x 17.3 x 12.5 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 16 5/16 x 6 13/16 x 4 15/16 in

Credit line: Gift of the Mauser Harmony with Nature Foundation, Inc., in memory of Dr. Ferdinand F. Mauser 1914–1994

Accession number: 2006.0144

Not on display

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Empire of Things

Wearing armor and a flaming ring, this figure looks ferocious and is depicted in motion to stop his enemy. Although his arms are missing, his gesture and stance suggest that he is probably Hanshika (Pāñcika), the husband of the goddess Kishibojin (Hārītī), with whom he was said to have 500 children. The family crest on the base identifies the statue as a pair with the Kishibojin statue also in Spencer’s collection (2006.0143). By worshiping this pair of deities, believers hoped to ensure a safe childbirth and to protect their children. Despite the religious purpose of these sculptures such as this one, museums have often miscategorized them as art admired primarily for their aesthetic qualities.