Sanno Mandala

Japanese: 山王曼荼羅 - さんのうまんだら

This is a Suijaku Mandala depicting the deities, Buddhas and shrine buildings of Hiyoshi Sanno Shrine (Hiyoshi Taisha) in Sakamoto, Otsu City. Sanno Shrine was established with the sacred mountain of Hachioji behind it, centering on the seven upper shrines, the three East Omiya shrines and the four West Omiya shrines, but it always prospered under the influence of Mt. Hiei, as it was worshipped as the guardian deity of Enryaku-ji Temple. The Sanno Mandala was in demand within the religious society of Mt. Hiei, and was worshipped as the guardian deity by groups such as Yamashita no Satobo and Sanno Rokuko. As with Kasuga and Kumano, there are various styles, including those depicting the local Buddha, those showing Suijaku gods, those focusing on the shrine scenery with the sacred mountain behind, and those focusing on the individual shrine buildings.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

大津市坂本にある日吉山王社(日吉（ひよし）大社)の神仏や社殿を描いた垂迹（すいじやく）曼荼羅。山王社は神体山である八王子山を背に，東大宮三社と西大宮四社の上七社を中心に成立したが，延暦寺の鎮守として信仰されたため，つねに叡山の影響下で繁栄していた。山王曼荼羅はこのような叡山の宗教社会の中で要請され，山下の里坊や山王六講などの講で鎮守本尊として礼拝された。春日や熊野と同じように，本地仏を描いたもの，垂迹神を示したもの，神体山を背にした社景や個々の社殿に重点を置いたものなど，その形式はさまざまである。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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