Komyoji Temple: Origin of Taima Mandala

JAPAN, Kanagawa, Kamakura; Kamakura period

This 13th century painting depicts the legendary origins of the Taima Mandala kept in Taimadera Temple in Nara. According to one account, Chujo-hime, the daughter of Minister Fujiwara no Toyonari, made a vow that she would be reborn in the Western Pure Land. One day, as she prepared to transcribe a sutra, Amitabha Buddha appeared to her in the form of a nun, and wove a mandala from strands of lotus stems. Another account says that Chujo-hime became a nun and wove the mandala herself, and at her death was welcomed to the Pure Land by Amitabha. This exquisite painting was donated to Komyoji Temple by the Naito family in 1675 of the Edo period. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1955.
The painting, composed of conjoined strips of paper, portrays numerous figures in a broad perspective. The house on the right has delicately detailed walls and interior decor. Amitabha and a retinue of Bodhisattvas are depicted on the left. Their clothing is highlighted with gold paint that emphasizes their nobility and grace. Trees and cliffs are painted on the far left side of the image. Although the colors have faded, the elegant details make this an exemplary piece of Kamakura period art.