Begtse Chen
Artist
Mongolian (Mongolian)Date
Early 20th centuryMedium
Ink and pigment on paperDimensions
Sheet : 11 3/4 x 8 1/2 in. (29.85 x 21.59 cm)Mat : 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.64 cm)
Credit Line
Purchased with funds donated by Ronald (1962) and Gerri Vander MolenObject Number
2019.13.2Label
The name Begtse Chen means “Hidden Coat of Mail.” Begtse was originally a Central Asian war god who was incorporated into the Tantric Buddhist pantheon as a protector deity sometime around the 11th century CE. He is typically portrayed as a fierce-looking warrior with three eyes and a mouth full of sharp, fanged teeth. He wears a five-skull crown and the resplendent uniform of a military general. His right hand brandishes a sword above his head while his left hand holds a human heart in front of his chest. His feet trample on the supine bodies of a human and a horse.