Four Tutelary Deities of Mount Koya
Date16th century
Maker
Japanese
Label TextThe kami (Shinto deity) of Mount Koya, Koya Myojin is depicted at the upper left as a courtier in black. When founder of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism Kukai (774–835) was in search of a place to establish his monastery, he was led by Koya Myojin to Mount Koya. Kukai also met Niu Myojin, the goddess of Mount Koya depicted at the upper right, who granted him the land. In the 14th century, two more Shinto deities, Itsukushima (lower left) and Kehi Myojin (lower right), were enshrined—the four together become known as the Four Deities of Mount Koya. As with other Buddhist traditions before it, Shingon Buddhism incorporated local gods. The story of Shingon Buddhism’s founding is also a founding story of Mount Koya as sacred site.
Object number33.1693
Photo CreditPhoto: Spike Mafford
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Rabbit, Cat and Horse; Endearing Creatures in Japanese Art, Dec. 21, 2002 - Mar. 16, 2003.
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Legends, Tales, Poetry: Visual Narrative in Japanese Art, Dec. 22, 2012 - Jul. 21, 2013.
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Noble Splendor: Art of Japanese Aristocrats, Jul. 28, 2018 - Mar. 3, 2019.
Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing [on view beginning Jan. 13, 2023].Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection
DimensionsImage: 34 1/4 × 14 1/8 in. (87 × 35.8 cm)
Overall: 73 7/16 × 19 13/16 in. (186.5 × 50.3 cm); with knobs: 73 7/16 × 22 7/16 in. (186.5 × 57 cm)
MediumInk and color on silk
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