Shigisan engi (Legends of the Temple on Mount Shigi)

Item number N2.783 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

First scroll in a set of three (N2.782, N2.783 and N2.784) picture scrolls, known as emakimono (絵巻物) or emaki (絵巻) of Shigisan engi (信貴山縁起; Legends of the Temple on Mount Shigi); painted in ink with calligraphy. Mounted on grey-purple paper printed with a silver floral design. Wound around a wooden baton. When closed it ties shut with a length of purple cord, printed with a white crisscrossing pattern.

Narrative

The scroll has the title 信貴山縁起延喜加持の巻(Shigisan engi, Engikaji no maki; Legends of the Temple on Mount Shigi, The Exorcism of the Engi Era Emperor). The scroll set in the MOA collection is a modern reproduction of the original work in colour, likely produced in the twelfth century, belonging to Chōgosonshi-ji temple (朝護孫子寺) in Nara Prefecture. The purchase was recommended to MOA in 1962 by Dr. Shūichi Kato (加藤周一; 1919–2008), UBC Department of Asian Studies (1960-69). Dr. Kato was a well-known cultural, literary and political critic and intellectual, who originally trained as a medical doctor.

Item History

Made in Japan
Collected during 1962
Owned by Isseido before January 1962
Received from Isseido (Seller) and Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) during January 1962