Par kousku z Britskeho narodniho muzea
Stoneware figure of an assistant to the Judge of Hell (Room 33: free-standing statue)
Ming dynasty, c. 1522-1620
Ten judges preside over Chinese Buddhist 'Hell', which resembles a courtroom where souls present themselves to account for the good and bad deeds they performed in life - a process which can take up to three years. This scholarly official holds a document recording the names of evil-does and their misdemeanours under his left arm. His fierce stare, with green face and hands, is highly effective. To the right, a statue possibly from the same group depicts another judge's assistant, this time holding a book recording the names of those who have performed good deeds: note how much thinner it is.
Given by the National Art Collections Fund, Oscar Raphael and other subscribers.