Nachi Shrine at Kumano, from the Kumano Mandala, a set of three paintings

Object Details

• Label

  Kumano, south of present-day Nara, has been an important religious site and pilgrimage destination from ancient times.

  This painting with F1958.18 and F1958.19, form a late medieval pilgrimage mandala representing the three sites--Nachi, Nimasu Shrine, and Hayatama Shrine--often referred to collectively as the Kumano Shrine. While a mandala is generally thought of as a symmetrically arranged diagram used as a meditation reference, sacred topography such as Kumano was also frequently accorded the status of mandala. Journeys through such places whether as represented in a painting or in actual pilgrimage, are thought by many to have beneficial effects.

  Japanese Buddhism incorporated indigenous religious beliefs into a wider Buddhist cosmology in a respectful but subsidiary role. The style of Buddhist painting seen here, produced from the second half of the thirteenth century, combines representation of sites and gods sacred to Shinto belief with references to corresponding Buddhist deities.

  This painting was produced during the height of Kumano's popularity as a pilgrimage site. Diaries written at that time by imperial and aristocratic visitors contain many references to the journey from Kyoto to Kumano. The painting's high quality suggests the patronage of an important devotee.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Way of the Kami (May 11 to November 3, 2019)

  The Historical Buddha and Friends (November 3, 2018 to May 5, 2019)

  Religious Art of Japan (December 18, 2002 to January 4, 2015)

  Telling Tales in Japanese Art (November 23, 1996 to August 14, 1997)

  Japanese Art (March 12, 1982 to November 3, 1986)

  Japanese Art (June 16, 1982 to September 28, 1982)

  Japanese Art (April 11, 1978 to March 6, 1981)

  Japanese Art--Shinto (October 12, 1976 to December 10, 1976)

  Japanese Art: Painting and Sculpture (July 1, 1966 to May 2, 1973)

  Japanese Art (January 1, 1963 to July 1, 1966)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 1 and 2 (February 25, 1956 to January 1, 1963)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Shrine, Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Symbolism, Japanese Art, Kakemono

• Culture

  Buddhists, Hindus, Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings