Nachi pilgrimage mandala painting
from Nachi Shrine, Kumano, reproduced from a book from the collection of Seigantoji-temple
(Museum collection)
This pilgrimage mandala depicts the scene around the Kumano Nachi Shrine, one of the three shrines of Kumano, and is indispensable for leaning about the Kumano religion that existed in the middle ages. It incorporates various sacred sites and tales in an attempt to persuade those who look at the painting to visit Nachi. Of particular interest is the Nachi waterfall in the top right corner and which itself is considered to be a kami. In the middle of the bottom of the painting we can see under the torii a boat leaving for the Fudaraku Sea as it heads to the pure land of the Kannon. Kumano nuns and other believers are thought to have carried this picture to all parts of Japan to spread belief in the Kumano religion.

Picture of a circle of the five realms of existence
(Museum collection)
This picture depicts the Buddhist view of the universe centered on reincarnation. Similar paintings are found not only in the Japanese archipelago, but have a wide distribution across the sphere of Buddhist culture. The five realms of existence, hell, hungry demons, beasts, humans, and heaven, are depicted inside the disc held by the large demon, and we have tied it in with the title of this edition's special feature.