Jin'ōji is a small temple in the foothills of Mount Katsuragi, about nineteen miles (thirty kilometers) southwest of Osaka. This long fragment from a handscroll, representing a panoramic view of the temple, illustrates the legends of the temple and its founders. Monks, pilgrims, and lay officials move from right to left, toward the Golden Hall, for the annual Great Maitreya Meeting, with readings from Buddhist scripture and ceremonies performed for the protection of the nation. The figures are painted in a lively style characterized by strong contours filled with light washes of color. The harmonious blend of landscape, architecture, and human activity in this scene, the climax of Jin'ōji's glorified history, is a hallmark of the scroll.
