真言諸尊図像抄|Scroll from the Compendium of Iconographic Drawings (Zuzōshō)
Unknown Artist
late 12th century
Medium
Handscroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
11 7/8 in. x 25 ft. 7 1/2 in. (30.2 x 781 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Heian (794–1185) or Kamakura (1185–1333) period
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975
Accession Number
1975.268.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite handscroll, titled *Scroll from the Compendium Iconographic Drawings (Zōshō)*, dates to the late 12 century, bridging Japan's Heian (794–1185) and Kamakura (1185–3) periods. Created by an unknown artist, it belongs to the Shingon Buddhist tradition, serving as a vital reference manual for depicting esoteric deities (*真言諸尊*). Stretching an impressive 25 feet, this ink and color on paper work was designed to unroll sequentially, allowing viewers—likely monks or artists—to study precise iconographic forms essential for rituals, mandalas, and temple decorations. In the context of l...