Illustrated Miracles of the Kasuga Deity, Volume 12 Scenes 1 & 2 『春日権現験記絵』 （第1２巻 第一段、第二段）

Official explanation

Zoshun (1104–1180), the head monk of Kofukuji Temple, is dreaming. In the dream, he sees the first deity of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Takemikazuchi, stepping out of a palanquin. At the time, Kofukuji and Kasuga Taisha were closely interlinked, as they served as the family temple and tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara clan, respectively. Takemikazuchi scolds Zoshun for never visiting Kasuga Taisha, and Zoshun, though he initially tries to defend himself, grows remorseful. Later, in Scene 2, four deer appear in the doorway at Kofukuji to listen as Zoshun recites Buddhist sutras, implying that Zoshun has followed Takemikazuchi’s instructions. Deer are considered divine envoys of the five Kasuga deities, and their presence in the scene indicates Zoshun has gained the deities’ approval.

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Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.