FUDO painted mask

FUDO painted mask
Japanese FUDO MYO-O mask. Hand painted polyester resin. Dimensions, around 21x17 cm
Fudo Myo-o, The Immovable, is one of the fierce guardian deities of the Vajrayana Buddhist cult -or esoteric Buddhism-particularly revered by Buddhist practitioners in Japan.
It is classified among the vidyaraja, or kings of wisdom, and belongs to the Myo-o. With his right hand he wields a flaming sword to cut off the head of evil, and with his left hand he holds a rope to bring his allies afloat. It is placed in the center, among the other four gods located in the four cardinal points.
He is represented surrounded by flames because he is able to fight against evil even in the hell.