Shigisan engi (Legends of the Temple on Mount Shigi) Item Number: N2.783 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Second 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 crisscross pattern.

Narrative

Purchase recommended 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. The scroll has the title 信貴山縁起 飛倉の巻 (Shigisan engi, Asuka no maki; Legends of the Temple on Mount Shigi, The Flying Granary). The scroll set in the MOA collection is a modern reproduction of the original work (in colour), likely produced in the 12th century, belonging to Chōgosonshi-ji temple (朝護孫子寺) in Nara Prefecture.