Scroll Painting

A painting showing Shaka Buddha, the historical Buddha, as Shaka-kinrin or "Shaka of the golden wheel" in the center surrounded by various deities. This type of painting is known as a star mandala and features the 12 zodiac animals as well as the five planets of antiquity (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn). The function of the painting is to help prevent calamities. The center shows Buddha with various golden wheels on a lotus throne which sits on a rock emerging from an ocean. Two serpents are entwined around the rock possibly representing Rahu and Ketu. The middle is a blue background with a gold lattice design which is then surrounded by fields of green and red with a pantheon of figures and animals in white circles.