The peacock that eats poisonous snakes was deified in ancient India as a symbol of eliminating worldly desires and confusion. It was incorporated into Buddhism, becoming the Peacock King, who removes life's difficulties and obstacles, bringing tranquility to the mind.
As the only wrathful deity with the compassionate aspect of a bodhisattva, the Peacock King is depicted seated on a large peacock, adorned with a magnificent treasure crown and other resplendent features. Among the esoteric Buddhist deities transmitted to Japan, the Peacock King has been particularly revered as a powerful deity since ancient times.
The model for this deity is the main statue in the guest hall of Fukujyuin at Shoryaku-ji Temple in Nara Prefecture. Dating back to the Kamakura period, this statue is highly valuable, with no later additions or modifications.
In its hands, two on each side, the deity holds peacock feathers as protective charms, auspicious fruits known as "kachouka," and a dharma wheel to dispel evil. The vibrant and distinctive appearance, with the peacock's tail feathers forming a halo, is faithfully reproduced in meticulous detail, maintaining the grandeur of the original despite being in a small size of less than 20 centimeters.