Nishi Honganji Temple: Master Shinran

JAPAN, Kyoto; Kamakura period

This is the most renowned painting of Master Shinran, the founder of the True Pure Land school. As it is said to perfectly capture Shinran’s appearance, the painting is known as “the mirror image.” Inscriptions on the back state that it was painted in the 13th century by Fujiwara no Tametsugu, the son of Fujiwara Nobuzane. The inscriptions at the top were added by the monk Kakunyo when the painting was restored in 1311. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1956.
In 1201, Shinran saw a vision of Prince Shotoku during a meditation retreat at Rokkaku Hall in Kyoto, which inspired him to become Master Honen’s disciple and begin advocating the chanting of Amitabha’s name as a means to achieve salvation. When Honen and his followers were exiled from Kyoto, Shinran renamed himself “Gutoku,” which means “the foolish, bald-headed one.” He lived as a layman to prove that the salvation of Amitabha Buddha was not only for monks. He authored several books including Collection of Passages Expounding the Pure Land.
In the painting, Shinran is turned slightly to one side, holding a string of prayer beads. His face is carefully drawn with fine, faint brushstrokes, contrasting with the dark, bold strokes used to depict the monastic robe.