Category:

Municipally Designated Tangible Cultural Property (Painting)

Title:

Rinkoji kenpon chakushoku shingon hasso gazo

Eight Patriarchs of the Shingon Sect at Rinkoji Temple (Color on Silk)

林光寺絹本着色真言八祖画像

No. of features:

Eight pieces

Designated:

March 6, 1957

Location:

2-1-2 Takahanacho, Omiya Ward

(entrusted to the Saitama City Museum (opens to new page))

Owner:

The religious juridical person of Rinkoji Temple

Description:

The teachings of Shingon esoteric Buddhism, of Indian origin, were passed down through seven patriarchs (Nagarjuna, Nagabodhi, Vajrasattva, Subhakarasimha, Amoghavajra, Xixing, and Huiguo) to Kukai, who brought these teachings to Japan.

Artifacts that include Kukai, in addition to these seven patriarchs, are referred to as the ‘‘eight doctrinal patriarchs who expounded the teachings of Shingon Buddhism.’’ 

Rinkoji Temple's paintings of the eight doctrinal patriarchs are each painted on silk fabric measuring 84 cm in height and 35 cm in width. As Toji Temple's images of the seven patriarchs and Kukai were reproduced by successive generations, this work is thought to be from the Muromachi period.

Associated Texts:

(1959). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 1). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1965). “Cultural Properties in Omiya”. Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1986). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 2). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

This cultural property is not available for public viewing.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/017/011/003/p000233.html