Kasuga Mandala

Mandalas are representative paintings of Shinto art (Suijaku art). Many of these are relics from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods, and they refer to the following two types collectively. (1) Kasugamiya Mandala: It depicts the scenery of the grounds of Kasuga Taisha Shrine and the five original Buddhas of the four shrines and Wakamiya Shrine (Shaka, Yakushi, Eleven-faced Buddha, Monju, and Jizo). (2) Kasuga Shrine and Temple Mandala: The upper half of the painting depicts the scenery of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and the lower half depicts the buildings and pagodas of Kofuku-ji Temple. It is also called Kofuku-ji Mandala. In addition, the Kasuga Deer Mandala depicts a sacred mirror with five Buddhas painted on it, as depicted in the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, hung on a sakaki tree, with a sacred deer carrying the mirror. Examples include copies at Seikado, Kyoto National Museum, and Yomei Bunko. Furthermore, the Kasuga Jodo Mandala, which combines the Kasuga Mandala with Jodo Hensozu, was developed later. However, there are various theories about the assignment of the Honji (main land) of the four Kasuga shrines.

[Toshiaki Manabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

神道美術（垂迹(すいじゃく)美術）の絵画を代表する曼荼羅。鎌倉から室町時代にかけての遺品が多く、次の2種を総称する。(1)春日宮(みや)曼荼羅　春日大社境内の風景と祭神4社と若宮の5体の本地仏(ほんじぶつ)（釈迦(しゃか)、薬師、十一面、文殊(もんじゅ)、地蔵(じぞう)）を描く。(2)春日社寺曼荼羅　画面の上半に春日大社の状景、下半は興福寺の堂塔伽藍(がらん)を描く。興福寺曼荼羅ともいう。また、春日鹿(しか)曼荼羅は、春日大社の影向(ようごう)にしたがって5仏を描いた神鏡をサカキにかけて、神鹿(しんろく)が鏡を負うように表現している。作例として静嘉堂(せいかどう)、京都国立博物館、陽明文庫の各本がある。さらに春日曼荼羅と浄土変相図を組み合わせた春日浄土曼荼羅も、のちに展開した。ただし春日四社の本地(ほんじ)のあて方には諸説がある。

［真鍋俊照］

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