The Art Institute of Chicago hosts a sculpture that embodies Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Born from the influence of Chinese esoteric Buddhism and the Indian god Shiva, the deity Fudo Myo-o, or "The Immovable", is one of the most important figures of Japanese Buddhism. The deity first appears in the Heian period during the 9th century and is created to help followers of Buddhism in any adversity faced. During the Kamakura period, from the 12th to the 14th century, the figure of this guardian king developed into a more realistic sculptural form. Fudo Myo-o is unique in the Shingon Buddhism of Japan with qualities that distinguish him from most other deities, qualities that embody his fierce compassion, wisdom and wrath. At just 16 3/8 inches, the Fudo Myo-o at the Art Institute of Chicago isn't the first object in the Japanese collection to catch your attention. Yet, when you pass, it will stop you in your tracks. Fudo Myo-o is like nothing you've ever seen. His bulging eyes lock onto yours, a gaze so cruel you can't tear yourself away. His penetrating gaze draws you in and his stance seems to invite you to come forward. His furrowed brow and protruding fangs create such an intense facial expression that it almost seems like he's trying to tell you something. It seems that his arms, at some point, have held something and are open as if they welcome you and offer you some sort of promise. Fudo sits on a rectangular base, which gives the impression that he is some sort of deity or divine figure. The Fudo Myo-o has cloth draped over his left shoulder and wears lavish jewelry reminiscent of a Bodhisattva. Her jewelry also suggests to the viewer that she must have a certain level of nobility. It also has a shell... in the center of the card... icago. The Art Institute of Chicago, 2011. Web. October 12, 2011. Cunningham, Michael. “Fierce Salvation: Comments on a Recently Acquired Japanese Sculpture.” The Cleveland Museum of Art Bulletin80.4 (1993): 140-43. Jstor. Oct 12, 2011Mack, Karen. "The phenomenon of invoking Fudo for the rebirth of the pure land in images and text." Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 33.2 (2006): 297-317. Jstor. Oct 12, 2011.Mason, Penelope. History of Japanese art. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004. Print. 12 Oct 2011Miyake, Hitoshi. "Religious Rituals in Shugendo: A Summary."Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 16 (1989): 101-16. Jstor. October 12, 2011.Okada, Barbra Teri and Kanya Tsujimoto. "The Fudo Myo-o of the Packard Collection: A Study During Restoration." Metropolitan MuseumJournal 14 (1979): 51-66. Jstor. October 12 2011