Monumental Multi-Figure Zushi Shrine (100cm Class)

Eight-Armed Benzaiten + Four Guardian Kings + Fifteen Attendants

There are objects that feel less like “a statue” and more like an entire ritual world made portable. This monumental zushi shrine is one of those rarities: a towering, estate-scale interior shrine built as a complete microcosm of protection, wealth, learning, and right order — anchored by a central eight-armed Benzaiten and surrounded by a full court of guardian power.

At approximately 100cm in height, the shrine’s presence is architectural. The doors open like a stage curtain to reveal a layered interior: a principal icon set deep in the sanctum, flanked and backed by multiple attendant figures, with additional rows of guardians and youthful acolytes building a sense of procession. This “many-figure” configuration is not decorative excess; it is a doctrinal and liturgical grammar. A single deity expresses a vow. A retinue expresses a functioning cosmos — roles, forces, and protections arranged around the vow so that it can act in the world.

The visual thesis here is Benzaiten as sovereign of auspicious flow — the deity of eloquence and knowledge, music and refinement, and also wealth and fortune. In Japanese Buddhist practice, Benzaiten is often approached not as an abstract idea, but as a living presence whose benefits are experienced through clarity of mind, persuasive speech, refined judgment, and the attraction of opportunity. An eight-armed form intensifies that meaning: more arms, more implements, more capacities — a multi-directional guardian of prosperity who can “work” on many fronts at once.

Around this principal icon, the guardian architecture expands. The Four Guardian Kings (the directional protectors of the Dharma) are invoked in the listing text, and the physical structure suggests a worldview built on perimeter defense: guardians at the edges, attendants in the middle field, the principal icon at the core. The mention of “fifteen attendants” further signals an organized ensemble rather than a random cluster of figures — the kind of arrangement you expect in a shrine made for serious placement, not casual display.

The zushi itself — with its gilded fittings, layered panels, and deep interior — is the second artwork. In high-grade examples, metalwork is not an afterthought: it is armor for the sacred space. The doors do more than close; they seal a ritual atmosphere. The fittings define thresholds, protect vulnerable edges, and visually proclaim status. In this piece, the metalwork reads as ceremonial grade: bold, abundant, and intended to be seen across a room.

Collectors who think in museum terms will recognize what makes this special: scale, complexity, and the rare survival of a full shrine ecology. Multi-figure shrines are notoriously prone to loss and mismatch over time — a missing attendant here, a replaced guardian there — so the mere fact that this presents as a coherent world is itself the value story. Even if condition notes exist, the object’s core proposition remains: this is an interior shrine that was built to be the room’s spiritual gravity.

Because the listing also mentions an inscription read as a year marker, it raises the tantalizing possibility of early dating. Yet responsible scholarship demands caution: inscriptions can be later, interpretive readings can be uncertain, and famous-name attributions are frequently devotional rather than documentary. The right way to approach this piece is as a high-theater, high-impact shrine world with layered historical possibility — and to price, present, and ship it with the seriousness reserved for institutional-scale devotional objects.

This is not a shelf piece. It is the kind of shrine that becomes a centerpiece of a collection — the “one object that rewrites the room,” especially for collectors focused on Japanese religious art, esoteric iconography, and the aesthetics of protective power.

Who is this deity?

• Benzaiten (Benten): Deity of eloquence, learning, music, refined arts; also associated with prosperity and good fortune.
• Eight-armed form: Expanded capability; multiple implements (varies by tradition) signaling authority and multi-directional benefit.
• Four Guardian Kings (Shitenno): Directional protectors embodying boundary defense for the sanctuary and practitioner.
• Zushi: Portable shrine-cabinet functioning as ritual architecture and protective container for the icon.

Why collectors care

• Monumental scale: 100cm-class zushi reads as architectural presence, not a small altar accessory.
• Ensemble logic: Principal icon + guardians + attendants; complete shrine ecologies are scarcer than single-figure works.
• Status metalwork: Abundant gilt fittings act as both protection and proclamation.
• Esoteric resonance: Multi-armed Benzaiten carries strong vow-and-protection meaning.
• Display power: Room-anchoring presence that photographs like institutional holdings.

Condition

• Listing indicates overall wear consistent with age (scratches / dirt).
• Expect wear at door edges, fittings, and interior shelves in multi-part shrines.
• Antique devotional object: patina, surface wear, possible minor losses or later stabilizations.
• Recommend photo review and requesting a full figure inventory and any documentation.

Measurements

• Height: approx. 100cm (as stated in listing title)
• Width / depth: not fully specified; logistics planning model: ~80cm W x ~55cm D
• Packed crate model: ~120cm H x ~95cm W x ~80cm D

Planning models should be revised once exact measurements are confirmed.

Estimated weight + volumetric weight

• Estimated packed weight (crated): ~90–140 kg (planning range)
• Volumetric weight model : 182.4 kg

Shipping & logistics

Recommended: crated art freight with internal bracing and vibration isolation. If removable figures can be safely separated, wrap and secure them independently inside the crate.

• Courier freight (DHL/UPS/FedEx freight): possible only via freight channel; not standard parcel.
• Air cargo + local delivery: often best for large crates; requires terminal handling.
• Sea freight (LCL): slower but often more sensible for a 100cm-class crate.

Confidence & verification notes

• Attribution language should remain “transmitted as” / “traditionally attributed.”
• If an inscription is present, photograph and specialist-read it clearly.
• Confirm materials (bronze vs wood vs composite) for the principal icon.
• Request an itemized figure inventory to verify completeness.

Collector’s resonance

• Room-scale religious art anchor object collectors.
• Curator-minded buyers seeking a complete shrine world.
• Esoteric iconography enthusiasts drawn to multi-armed Benzaiten and protective retinues.
• Interior designers wanting a single object with gravity and narrative.

Learn more

• Benzaiten guide
• Four Guardian Kings
• What is a zushi shrine?
• Zushi collection
• Concierge