Portrait of En no Gyōja

Attributed to Jakusai 寂済 Japanese

late 14th–15th century

Not on view

The legendary founder of a sect of mountain-dwelling religious practitioners called Shugendō, En no Gyōja is said to have lived during the seventh century on Mount Katsuragi, near the ancient capital of Nara. He is believed to have conjured Zaō Gongen of Mount Kinpusen, the guardian deity of Shugendō.

In this portrait, En no Gyōja appears in his conventional hood, monk’s robe, straw mantle, and wood sandals. He is usually shown holding a vajra (thunderbolt sword) and a shakujō (jeweled staff with six rings); here, however, he bears a rosary and one of his two servant-demons has the shakujō. According to legend, En no Gyōja ordered these demons (one red and one green) to serve him. Had they refused, he had the power to bind them with a spell. The landscape suggests a high mountain with a stream and hovering clouds.

Artwork Details

Title: Portrait of En no Gyōja
Artist: Attributed to Jakusai 寂済 (Japanese, 1348–1424)
Period: Muromachi period (1392–1573)
Date: late 14th–15th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: Image: 36 5/16 × 15 5/16 in. (92.2 × 38.9 cm)
Overall with mounting: 72 3/8 × 21 5/8 in. (183.8 × 54.9 cm)
Overall with knobs: 72 3/8 × 23 3/8 in. (183.8 × 59.4 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Object Number: 29.100.442
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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