Shigisan Engi Emaki - Shigisan Engi Emaki

Japanese: 信貴山縁起絵巻 - しぎさんえんぎえまき

This is a picture scroll depicting a tale about Myoren, a monk who restored Mount Shigisan. Created in the late 12th century. 3 volumes, colored on paper. National Treasure. Owned by Chogosonshiji Temple. The story is also included in the 12th century Kohon Setsuwashu and the 13th century Uji Shui Monogatari. The extant picture scrolls consist of three volumes: "The Flying Storehouse," in which Myoren's iron bowl carries a rich man's rice storehouse to the top of Mount Shigisan; "The Engi Kaji Scroll," in which Myoren sends a boy named Kengoho flying to heal the illness of an emperor far away in the capital while still on Mount Shigisan; and "The Nun Scroll," in which a nun traveling in search of her brother Myoren is reunited with Myoren after receiving a prophecy in a dream from the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple. The vivid depiction of the characters' expressions and movements, combined with effective coloring and a composition that skillfully expresses the temporal and spatial progression of the story on successive screens, make this one of the greatest narrative picture scrolls. Along with the Tale of Genji Illustrated Scroll, it is a representative work of Yamato-e from the Heian period.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

信貴山を再興した修行僧，命蓮 (みょうれん) にまつわる説話を絵巻としたもの。 12世紀後半の作。紙本着色，3巻。国宝。朝護孫子寺蔵。物語は 12世紀の『古本説話集』や 13世紀の『宇治拾遺物語』にも収められている説話。現存の絵巻は，命蓮の鉄鉢が長者の米倉を信貴山頂に運ぶ「飛倉の巻」，命蓮が剣の護法という童子を飛ばして，信貴山にいながらはるか都の帝の病を癒やす「延喜加持の巻」，弟の命蓮をたずねて旅をする尼公 (あまぎみ) が，東大寺大仏の夢のお告げにより命蓮と再会する「尼公の巻」の3巻から成る。人物の表情や動作をいきいきと描き，効果的な彩色法や，連続する画面に物語の時間的，空間的推移を巧みに表現する構図法とも相まって，説話絵巻の最高傑作の一つ。『源氏物語絵巻』とともに平安時代のやまと絵を代表する作品。

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