{"product_id":"edo-1750-1790-shugendo-mandala-buddhist-hanging-scroll-zao-gongen-and-the-sacred-figures-of-mount-omine-蔵王権現曼荼羅","title":"Edo 1750–1790 Shugendō Mandala Buddhist Hanging Scroll – Zaō Gongen and the Sacred Figures of Mount Ōmine (蔵王権現曼荼羅)","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis rare Edo-period devotional hanging scroll, dating from approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1750–1790\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, depicts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZaō Gongen and the Sacred Figures of Mount Ōmine (蔵王権現曼荼羅 \/ 修験道図)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Created for followers of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShugendō\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the mountain ascetic tradition that combined Esoteric Buddhism, Shinto, and ancient mountain worship, the painting functions both as an object of devotion and as a symbolic guide to one of Japan's most sacred pilgrimage routes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the centre stands \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZaō Gongen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the fierce guardian deity of Mount Ōmine, shown in his classic dynamic pose with one leg raised, surrounded by flames, and wearing his characteristic wrathful expression. Around him appear several of the principal deities and figures revered within the Shugendō tradition, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJizō Bosatsu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBenzaiten\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFudō Myōō\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEn no Gyōja\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the legendary founder of Shugendō, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDaikongō Dōji\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one of the tradition's protective attendants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumerous small figures climbing the rocky mountainside represent \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eyamabushi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the mountain ascetics who undertook rigorous pilgrimages through the sacred peaks of Yoshino and Mount Ōmine. Their journey reflects the spiritual practice of encountering each deity in sequence while travelling through the holy landscape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaintings of this type are known as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eŌmine Mandalas (大峯曼荼羅)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Rather than illustrating a single scene, they served as visual maps of the sacred mountain, allowing worshippers to contemplate the spiritual geography of the pilgrimage and the deities who protected each stage of the ascent.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the most distinctive features is the depiction of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZaō Gongen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose unique iconography originated specifically within the mountain cults of Yoshino and Ōmine. Unlike other Buddhist guardian figures, his dramatic stance and blazing aura became exclusive symbols of Shugendō and remain among the most recognizable images in Japanese mountain religion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Echoes of Edo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49336173887747,"sku":null,"price":6000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/5965\/1587\/files\/photo-collage.png_31_1c510c94-a25b-4e7e-8cf6-080c0ea95d7c.png?v=1785205679","url":"https:\/\/echoesofedo.com\/products\/edo-1750-1790-shugendo-mandala-buddhist-hanging-scroll-zao-gongen-and-the-sacred-figures-of-mount-omine-%e8%94%b5%e7%8e%8b%e6%a8%a9%e7%8f%be%e6%9b%bc%e8%8d%bc%e7%be%85","provider":"Echoes of Edo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}