Picture Scroll Depicting the History of the Kitano Tenjin
- Date
-
制作年 AD15
- Title
- キタノテンジンエンギエマキダンカン
- Collections
- Century Akao Collection
- Depository
- Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
- Ref. number
- AW-CEN-000279-0000
- 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
- Handwriting Font Rectangle Art Wood
During the reign of Emperor Daigo (885-930), the then Minister of the Right, Sugawara-no-Michizane (845-903), was banished to the government outpost in Dazaifu (in northern Kyushu). The sudden decree banishing this outstanding scholar-administrator in January 901 was based on an unfounded reproach made by the Minister of the Left, Fujiwara-no-Tokihira (871-909), who claimed that Michizane was plotting to replace Emperor Daigo with the emperor’s younger brother, Prince Tokiyo (886-927; his wife was Michizane’s daughter). Only two years after taking up the remote disgraceful post, Michizane died in anguish. Afterward, an unexplainable series of misfortunes befell Tokihira and the members of his clan. The ultimate bad omen was a thunder strike on the Seiryoden Palace, which killed some courtiers. Frightened by the series of incidents, the court nobles came to believe that the unfortunate events were caused by the disturbed soul of the wronged Michizane, who was now haunting the capital after his sorrowful death. Due to the misfortunes and superstitions, a new religious belief quickly took shape. They had to appease the vengeful soul of the dead, so Michizane was deified as Tenjin (lit. heavenly god), shrines were erected in various provinces in his honor, many portraits were drawn, and calligraphers produced framed exhibits writing the name Tenjin, believing in its talismanic powers. Soon the Kitano Tenjin Emaki (picture scrolls) were produced, describing Michizane’s biography, numerous superstitious accounts of deeds attributed to his departed soul and the story of the origin of the Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. Currently, there are over 20 kinds of Kitano Tenjin picture scrolls. Monk Nichizo (905?-985?), while training in Mt. Kimpu (Jp. KimpuSen, lit. Gold Mountain) in Yamato Province (today’s Nara), started a fasting rite in a cavern on April 16, 934, and died around noon on August 1 holding a bell in his hand. He then revived on the 13th day. The exhibited segment depicts how Nichizo met Tenjin and journeyed in Hades, led by the Kongo Zao, a manifestation of a combinatory Buddhist deity. After coming back to life, the monk confessed that the torments in hell described in the Buddhist scriptures were true. On the box which contains this hanging scroll, one can see a notation attributing the painting to Tosa Yukimitsu (years of birth and death unknown; late-14th century painter) and the inscription to Princely Priest Sondo (1332-1403). The notation must have been copied from the postscript which appeared at the end of a picture scroll, which was the original form of this decorated and framed hanging scroll. From the writing and painting style, the exhibit was most likely created during the Muromachi Period (15th c.).
（歩）ませたてまつり、心神をなやませり。二には、自高殿に坐して、父を下座に居へたてまつる。三には、無罪賢臣を配流し、四には久貧国位之間、多仏法をほろぼすにあへり。五には、我身の怨敵の故に他の衆生を損害す。此故に、此苦患を受く。汝、娑婆に帰て此苦を可祓之由、我諸の皇子に告申すべし、とのたまへり。
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Identifiers
- Title (EN)
- Picture Scroll Depicting the History of the Kitano Tenjin
Physical description
- Weights and quantities
-
Quantity 1幅
- Attachments
- 桐箱
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