Four Tutelary Deities of Mount Koya
16th century
The 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.
Ink and color on silk
Image: 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)
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection
33.1693
Photo: Spike Mafford