Himalayan Art Resources

Collection of AMNH: Who Are We?

Who Are We? | AMNH Main Page | Weird Gods & Fantastical Deities | Weird & Off Topics

The sculpture below represents several different sets of images from the American Museum of Natural History collection. The question is, who are they? Do they belong to Chinese folk religion? Taoism? Are they Buddhist? Are they gods of the days, weeks, months, years? Astrological?

The first three images are in a skeletal form. It is likely that these figures are intended to be decorative objects on a wrathful deities shrine. They should not be confused with the Tantric Buddhist protector deity Shri Shmashana Adhipati.

Jeff Watt 6-2015