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Important Cultural Property

Enma-ten Mandala

閻魔天曼荼羅図
Enma-ten Mandala (閻魔天曼荼羅図)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Painting · Kamakura period, 13th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category
Paintings
Date
1201–1300
Dimensions
Height125.1cm:Width87.4cm 230cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-5691

Find more

This mandala features Enma (Yama), the King of Hell, holding a staff mounted with a human head in his right hand and sitting on a bull. The dynamic brush lines indicate a new style used in the Kamakura period, however decorative designs such as the serpentine lines (tatewaku) and lotus floral scrolls, as well as the cut gold leaf on the garments and flowing scarves are reminiscent of earlier stylistic trends. The pigmentation, carefully applied to the fine silk, is vivid and clear, and gold foil applied from the back was also used to decorate the dress, bodies, and belongings of the figures;

— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Enma-ten Mandala(閻魔天曼荼羅図).” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-5691. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/enma-ten-mandala/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Category: Paintings, sketches, and prints:Japan:Buddhist paintings
  • Genre: Painting
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Size: Height125.1cm:Width87.4cm 230cm
  • 員数: 1幅
  • 分類: 絵画
  • 種別: 絵画:日本:仏画
  • 法量: 縦125.1cm:横87.4cm: 230cm

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