This is Actually the Japanese God of Thunder

At first glance, this frightening figure may look like a demon. But it is actually Raijin, the Japanese deity associated with thunder and lightning. This remarkable sculpture is housed at Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto and is generally dated to the 13th century, during Japan's Kamakura period. Standing around 105 centimetres tall, Raijin is shown surrounded by a circular arrangement of drums, with drumsticks in his hands. According to the traditional imagery, the sound of Raijin beating these drums represents the rumble of thunder. The sculpture is part of Sanjusangendo's remarkable collection, which includes statues of Fujin, the deity associated with wind, 28 guardian deities and 1,001 statues of Kannon. The temple also describes the roots of Raijin and Fujin as extending into ancient Indian religious traditions, with their forms later becoming part of Buddhist traditions and developing distinctive Japanese artistic representations. The sculpture is recognized as a National Treasure of Japan, and the famous Kamakura-period sculptor Tankei is closely associated with its creation. What looks like a terrifying monster is therefore a powerful artistic representation of nature itself: thunder and lightning transformed into a divine figure. 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archevault 📺 Main Channel: @Archevault