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Book/Printed Material Images of Bishamonten.

About this Item

Title

  • Images of Bishamonten.

Summary

  • This work is a print of Buddhist images called syubutu or inbutsu. The print was originally placed in the internal cavity of a wooden standing statue of Bishamonten, considered a protector of the teachings of the Buddha. This particular Bishamonten was housed in a statue at the Yamato Nakagawa Temple, which prospered in the late Heian period as a branch of Kōfukuji Temple in Nara. The print has seven Bishamonten impressions, four on the upper part of the page and three on the lower part, each approximately 17 centimeters tall. They stand on bases made of rocks, with swords in their right hands and miniature stupas on their left palms. An annotation on the back of the print dates it to the year 1162, making this the oldest extant print of Buddhist images bearing the year of production. The work is also an important document for the study of print culture in the Heian period (794-1185) and the Kamakura period (1192--1333).

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1162.

Headings

  • -  Japan
  • -  1162
  • -  Buddhist art
  • -  Buddhist gods

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 scroll, 42.5 centimeters in length.
  • -  Original resource at: National Diet Library.
  • -  Content in Japanese.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667425

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Images of Bishamonten. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1162] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667425/.

APA citation style:

(1162) Images of Bishamonten. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667425/.

MLA citation style:

Images of Bishamonten. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1162] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667425/>.