page_title: Koyasan Reihōkan
section_title: Paintings
hierarchical_section_title: Koyasan Reihōkan / Collection / National Treasures / Paintings
caption_attribution_description: English: Buddha's Nirvana (絹本著色仏涅槃図, kenpon chakushoku butsunehan zu). Hanging scroll, 267.6&#160;cm　x 271.2&#160;cm. Color on silk. Located at Kongōbu-ji, Mt. Kōya, Wakayama, Japan.
context_page_description: Kōyasan Reihōkan is an art museum on Kōya-san, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, preserving and displaying Buddhist art owned by temples on Kōya-san. The collection is centered around articles from the Heian and Kamakura periods and includes paintings, calligraphy, sutras, sculpture and Buddhist ritual objects. Among these are a set of the complete Buddhist canon, writings of Kūkai and Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura Shogunate, mandalas and portraits of priests. The most valuable objects have been designated as National Treasure or Important Cultural Property.
context_section_description: Eight National Treasure paintings owned by six of Koyasan's temples are stored at the Reihōkan. A 163.6 cm × 111.2 cm (64.4 in × 43.8 in) hanging scroll showing the Dragon King Zennyo (絹本著色善女竜王像 kenpon chakushoku zennyo ryūōzō) has been designated as National Treasure. Painted by Jōchi (定智) in 1145 Heian period with color on silk, the scroll is owned by Kongōbu-ji.
  Buddha's Nirvana (絹本著色仏涅槃図 kenpon chakushoku butsunehanzu), owned by Kongōbu-ji is a large scale, 267.6 cm × 271.2 cm (105.4 in × 106.8 in) hanging scroll painted with color on silk. Dated to 1086, Heian period, it is a type of Nirvana painting (nehan-zu) depicting the death and entrance to nirvana of the historical Buddha (Shaka). Typical for this kid of paintings, Shaka is shown lying on his deathbed surrounded by mourners. This painting is the oldest extant and finest of its type.
  The Portrait of Buddhist monk Gonsō (絹本著色勤操僧正像 kenpon chakushoku gonsō sōshō zō) is a 12th century Heian period hanging scroll owned by Fūmon-in (普門院). The scroll painted in colors on silk measures 166.4 cm × 136.4 cm (65.5 in × 53.7 in). An inscription on the top tells of a wooden sculpture of Gonsō being created after his death by his pupils praying for happiness in the next world and praising Gonsō's learning and virtue.
  The triptych Coming of Amida Buddha and Saints of the Pure Land (絹本著色阿弥陀聖衆来迎図 kenpon chakushoku amida shōju raigō zu) depicts Amida Nyorai, surrounded by Buddhist saints playing musical instruments, come to greet the spirits of the deceased to escort them to the Pure Land, a topic known as raigō-zu (来迎図). Painted on three hanging scrolls with color on silk, this work dates to around 1200, the turn from the Heian to the Kamakura period and is owned by Yūshi Hachimankō Jūhakkain (有志八幡講十八箇院).
  Originally consisting of five scrolls, the mid-Heian period treasure known as Five great Bodhisattvas of strength (絹本著色五大力菩薩像 kenpon chakushoku godairiki bosatsuzō) now consists of only three hanging scrolls after two were destroyed by fire in 1888. Painted with color on silk, the remaining scrolls show Kongōku (金剛吼) (322.8 cm × 179.5 cm (127.1 in × 70.7 in)), Ryūōku (龍王吼) (237.6 cm × 179.5 cm (93.5 in × 70.7 in)) and Muijūrikiku (無畏十力吼) (179.5 cm × 179.5 cm (70.7 in × 70.7 in)). Owned by Yūshi Hachimankō Jūhakkain (有志八幡講十八箇院), they are in custody at the Reihōkan.
  Ryūkōin (龍光院) owns a 12th century, Heian period hanging scroll painted with color on silk showing the Senchū Yūgen Kannon (絹本著色伝船中湧現観音像 kenpon chakushoku den senchū yūgen kannonzō), a manifestation of Kannon who calms the raging waters. Literally the term Senchū Yūgen means inspired vision while on a boat. It is said that this Kannon appeared to the monk and founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kūkai in 806 while on a boat to China. Having the appearance of a deva and crowned with flowers, Senchū Yūgen Kannon is shown calming the waves with the hands.
  A Kamakura period hanging scroll of an Amida Trinity (絹本著色阿弥陀三尊像 kenpon chakushoku amida sansonzō) is held at the museum. Painted with color on silk, the scroll measures 154.0 cm × 135.0 cm (60.6 in × 53.1 in).
  Ike no Taiga, among the most famous Edo period painters, decorated fusuma sliding partitions with landscape scenes in the nanga style. The designated National Treasure known as Landscape and figures on sliding partitions (紙本著色山水人物図 shihon chakushoku sansui jinbutsuzu) consists of ten paintings with color on paper.
caption: Buddha's Nirvana
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