Kasuga Mandala

Japan

Not on view

When the imperial court moved to Nara in the early eighth century, the Kasuga area became an important Shinto site. Here, the Kasuga Shrine and its environs are depicted in bird’s-eye perspective with Mount Mikasa, the sacred mountain, at top. Viewing this mandala could function as a virtual pilgrimage. Dedicated to the veneration of the Fujiwara clan’s tutelary kami, the Kasuga Shrine legitimized and strengthened the position of the family in politics and society.

Kasuga Mandala, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, Japan

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Kasuga Mandala, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, Japan
Kasuga Mandala, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, Japan
Kasuga Mandala, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, Japan
Kasuga Mandala, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, Japan

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