Nirvana painting

This painting depicts the scene of Shakyamuni's Nirvana, and is used as the principal image in Nirvana ceremonies. The oldest surviving Nirvana painting in Japan is the Kongobu-ji version from 1086 (Otoku 3), and subsequent works such as the Tokyo National Museum version and the Jokyo-ji version in Wakayama Prefecture are known to have been made between the end of the Heian period and the early Kamakura period. Works from the late Kamakura period onwards include the Jimokuji version in Aichi Prefecture and the Choho-ji version in Wakayama Prefecture. The former has a horizontal or nearly square screen, with few figures in the audience and a gentle depiction. The latter has a vertically long screen, depicts tall shalas, and features numerous figures, birds, animals, and insects, emphasizing the state of grief.

The Yoda-ji Temple version in Kagawa Prefecture is an eclectic style with many people, birds and animals depicted on a horizontally long screen. In addition to this, a painting called the Hasso Nirvana Painting was also produced, which includes the events that occurred before and after Nirvana.

Among the nirvana paintings from the Southern Song to Yuan dynasties in China, the Nara National Museum edition by Riku Nobutada and the Nakanobo Temple edition by Shushiro in Aichi Prefecture are well known. Many of the nirvana paintings are thought to be based on the Mahaparinirvana Sutra and the Buddha's Sutra.

[Kazuaki Takeda]

"Nirvana Painting" by Nakano Genzo (Japanese Art 268, Shibundo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

釈迦入滅の場面を描いた図で、涅槃会の本尊として用いられる。現存する、わが国最古の涅槃図は1086年（応徳3）の金剛峯寺本で、それに続くものとして東京国立博物館本や和歌山県浄教寺本などが平安時代末期から鎌倉時代初期の作として知られる。鎌倉時代後期以降の作として愛知県甚目寺(じもくじ)本や和歌山県長保寺本などがある。前者は横長または正方形に近い画面で、会衆人物が少なく、穏やかに表現される。後者は画面が縦長くなり、沙羅双樹も丈高く表し、会衆人物や鳥獣虫類が数多く、悲嘆の様子も強調される。

　なお香川県與田寺(よだじ)本は横長の画面に会衆人物・鳥獣類が数多く、折衷形式である。この他には八相(はっそう)涅槃図と称し、涅槃前後の出来事を描き加えた図も制作された。

　中国・南宋～元時代の涅槃図には陸信忠筆・奈良国立博物館本や周四郎筆の愛知県中之坊寺本が知られる。涅槃図の多くは『大般涅槃経(だいはつねはんぎょう)』、『仏般泥洹経(ぶつはつないおんぎょう)』などに基づくものとみられる。

［武田和昭］

『中野玄三著『涅槃図』（『日本の美術268』・至文堂）』

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