The Kōbō-Daishi Eden 弘法大師絵伝 Owned by the Jōdo-ji in Onomichi City: The Intention of the Fifth Scroll

Abstract

The Kōbō-Daishi Eiden 弘法大師絵伝 （Illustrated Biography of Kōbō-Daishi）, owned by the Jōdo-ji, is a large work that depicts the life and works of Kōbō-Daishi Kūkai in eight hanging scrolls. In this study, I examine the fifth, revealing new results. This fifth scroll is based on the illustration of the Kōbō-Daishi Gyōjō Ekotoba 弘法大師行状絵詞 in the collection of the Tōji, but has been modified in various places and has added its own original illustrations. The purpose of this work was to strongly assert that the Tōji is a sacred place of peace of the state, and that its successive abbots are the legitimate successors of Kūkai.

In addition, this work has conventionally been said to have been made in the 15th century. However, after analyzing infrared photographs and comparing them with the Jigoku Gokuraku zu Byōbu 地獄極楽図屏風 （second quarter of the 14th century） in the collection of the Konkai Kōmyō-ji 金戒光明寺, I found that the work was created in the mid-14th century.

The remaining seven screens will be examined in the future.