Shigisan-engi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shigisan engi (信貴山縁起, Shigisan engi^?) emaki (“Legends of Shigisan Temple”) is a scroll painting done in the early 12th century. The story details miracles which were attributed to the Shingon monk Myoren, who resided on Mount Shigi near Nara in Japan in the latter part of the 9th century^[1].

The tales are composed in the genre of engi. Engi is a narrative that chronicles the founding of a Buddhist establishment which, in the case of the Shigisan engi, is Chogosonshi-ji, founded by Myoren. The tales are painted in a style called otoko-e, or "men's pictures", a style characterized by active movement, out-door scenes and a certain feeling of lacking restraint.

The work is also a prime example of Heian scroll painting. As a work that draws from classical Japanese culture, it is referred to as yamato-e (as opposed to the Chinese themes inherent in kara-e.)

[edit] References

1. ^ Shigisan engi emaki (Japanese art) - Britannica Online Encyclopedia