[JAPANESE MANUSCRIPT DECORATED SCROLL]
[JAPANESE MANUSCRIPT DECORATED SCROLL]
[c. 19th C]
A heavily illustrated Japanese painted scroll, ink and colours on paper, c. 19th century, with large narrative scenes showing scenes from the life of a priest, including a temple decapitation scene with devils, and a large devil in a fiery hellscape maltreating the hero; some creasing, and tears to start/edges.
This scroll, skillfully painted and with an elegant introductory text, is OVER 8 METRES LONG. It may be a part of the ‘Yata Jizo Engi Emaki’ (the illustrated scroll of the history of the temple of Yata Jizo), written in or after the ‘Tenryaku years’ (947 AD - 957 AD) in the Kamakura Era.
The beginning of the text states that there was a warrior, Yasunari, in the village of Sakurai in Uchi, in the Yamato prefecture. This may today be Gojyo City in Nara prefecture, which has a Sakurai-Ji, or temple of the jodo sect and Yasunari might be Yasunari Sakurai, a member of the powerful local ruling family.
The text says that Yasunari lost his father at an early age. In Tenkei year 5 (942 AD), he accidentally killed his mother in an attempt to avenge his stepfather. He became a priest thanks to the guidance and mercy of Yata Jizo and built the Sakurai temple to mourn for his mother. The illustrations may show the episodes of his merit after his accession to the priesthood.
A fascinating and lovely narrative painted scroll with dramatic scenes, possibly illustrating the life of a 10th-century Japanese warrior priest.
[JAPANESE MANUSCRIPT DECORATED SCROLL]
[c. 19th C]
A heavily illustrated Japanese painted scroll, ink and colours on paper, c. 19th century, with large narrative scenes showing scenes from the life of a priest, including a temple decapitation scene with devils, and a large devil in a fiery hellscape maltreating the hero; some creasing, and tears to start/edges.
This scroll, skillfully painted and with an elegant introductory text, is OVER 8 METRES LONG. It may be a part of the ‘Yata Jizo Engi Emaki’ (the illustrated scroll of the history of the temple of Yata Jizo), written in or after the ‘Tenryaku years’ (947 AD - 957 AD) in the Kamakura Era.
The beginning of the text states that there was a warrior, Yasunari, in the village of Sakurai in Uchi, in the Yamato prefecture. This may today be Gojyo City in Nara prefecture, which has a Sakurai-Ji, or temple of the jodo sect and Yasunari might be Yasunari Sakurai, a member of the powerful local ruling family.
The text says that Yasunari lost his father at an early age. In Tenkei year 5 (942 AD), he accidentally killed his mother in an attempt to avenge his stepfather. He became a priest thanks to the guidance and mercy of Yata Jizo and built the Sakurai temple to mourn for his mother. The illustrations may show the episodes of his merit after his accession to the priesthood.
A fascinating and lovely narrative painted scroll with dramatic scenes, possibly illustrating the life of a 10th-century Japanese warrior priest.
[JAPANESE MANUSCRIPT DECORATED SCROLL]
[c. 19th C]
A heavily illustrated Japanese painted scroll, ink and colours on paper, c. 19th century, with large narrative scenes showing scenes from the life of a priest, including a temple decapitation scene with devils, and a large devil in a fiery hellscape maltreating the hero; some creasing, and tears to start/edges.
This scroll, skillfully painted and with an elegant introductory text, is OVER 8 METRES LONG. It may be a part of the ‘Yata Jizo Engi Emaki’ (the illustrated scroll of the history of the temple of Yata Jizo), written in or after the ‘Tenryaku years’ (947 AD - 957 AD) in the Kamakura Era.
The beginning of the text states that there was a warrior, Yasunari, in the village of Sakurai in Uchi, in the Yamato prefecture. This may today be Gojyo City in Nara prefecture, which has a Sakurai-Ji, or temple of the jodo sect and Yasunari might be Yasunari Sakurai, a member of the powerful local ruling family.
The text says that Yasunari lost his father at an early age. In Tenkei year 5 (942 AD), he accidentally killed his mother in an attempt to avenge his stepfather. He became a priest thanks to the guidance and mercy of Yata Jizo and built the Sakurai temple to mourn for his mother. The illustrations may show the episodes of his merit after his accession to the priesthood.
A fascinating and lovely narrative painted scroll with dramatic scenes, possibly illustrating the life of a 10th-century Japanese warrior priest.