Artist: Zheng Zhong
Date: 1641
Size: 30 x 561 cm
Technique: Silk
Marici, an ancient Hindu Goddess, was adopted by Buddhism as one of the twenty deities guarding the Buddha. An original image of Marici exists in the Nalanda Temple in India. In the Buddhist version, she is astride a pig as she saves people from suffering, or brings them wealth, success, etc. It is also believed that chanting her name repeatedly is a way of shaking off bad luck. This scroll, depicting Marici and her attendants, gives an eclectic iconography of Marici as read from different sutras. The three-faced, three-eyed goddess is sitting on a lotus base, wearing a smile on the face in front, a fierce look on the left one and a look of great serenity on the right one. The hands of the four arms on the left are holding a lotus, a rope, a bow and a needle, while the four on the right carry a pestle, a hook, an arrow and some string. Her head encircled by a flaming halo, and with tassels on her chest, she awaits the arrival of various deities on clouds. Zheng Zhong, courtesy name Qianli, art name Wuzhe, was a native of Shexian, Anhui province, but lived in Jinling (Nanjing, Jiangsu province). He practiced painting in the Song and Yuan traditions and was adept at both Buddhist and human portraits. His meticulous technique was characteristic of artisans of the time. Painted in 1641, the figures in this scroll are depicted in outline style, with light ink wash to heighten the visual effects. The Chinese-looking Buddhist imagery is comparable to the Daoist mural painting at the Yongle Palace of Yuan dynasty, both in its composition and in the form and clothes of the figures.
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