Picture Scroll Depicting the Deeds of High Priest Kobo Daishi Kukai
- Date
-
制作年 AD15
- Title
- コウボウダイシギョウジョウエマキダンカン
- Materials, techniques and shape
- 紙本墨画
- Collections
- Century Akao Collection
- Depository
- Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
- Ref. number
- AW-CEN-000682-0000
- License
- CC BY Images license
- Creditline
-
慶應義塾（センチュリー赤尾コレクション）
- URL
- Classification
- Art
- AI Tagging
- Textile Wood Rectangle Creative arts Art
Long after his death, the High Priest Kukai (Jp. Kobo Daishi Kukai; 774-835) was admired by the followers of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism, a major religious body in Japan, which the Reverend Kukai founded. His portraits were customarily hung at Buddhist rites of various sorts, e.g., temple gatherings, consecration ceremonies of Buddha’s remains (Jp. Busshari) and many other religious events. Later, his own calligraphy became so valued that they became the most sought-after gifts among connoisseurs. All throughout the Heian and Kamakura periods, Kukai worship continued to gain momentum. Against this backdrop, many picture scrolls (emaki) were produced depicting the history and legends about this great religious leader. The Koya Daishi Kogyo-Zu (Picture Scrolls of the Deeds of the Reverend Kukai) are the oldest known paintings, allegedly produced during the Kamakura Period. (6 scrolls, now property of Mt. Koya Jizo-In).The exhibited segment show likeness to the collection of the Mt. Koya Jizo-In and the Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum Collection (10 volumes). The latter collection is said to be complementary to the former edition. Here, the Reverend Kukai is depicted riding a white heavenly horse, ascending a holy mountain (Jp. RyojuSen) with a heavenly child figure. They are on their way to greet the Buddha. The rows of images – the Three Buddha Images and the Four Heavenly Kings (Jp. Shitenno) – against the backdrop of the holy mountain are rendered in the traditional painting technique of the Preaching Buddha. In Japan’s history of calligraphy, the generations of emperors developed a unique writing style later referred to as the Shinkan-yo style. The preface on this picture scroll shows similarities to that style. The exhibit was likely created in the early Muromachi Period.
則霊山のふもとに至ぬ。其時、老翁忽に出来、汝はいづくの人ぞ。又いづくへか行。何事をか求るといふ。大師答へ給ふ。我霊鷲山に登らむが為に、支那国より来れり。大師尺（＝釈）尊を見奉む事を望むとの給ふ（＝宣ふ）。老翁のいはく、汝眼異相あり。定て仏を見たてまつるべし。
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- Title (EN)
- Picture Scroll Depicting the Deeds of High Priest Kobo Daishi Kukai
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