The so-called Zen'nyo Nāga King sculpture kept in a portable shrine at Hōryū-ji Temple, dated to the Kamakura period, has been known among scholars since the late 19th century. Nevertheless, neither its unique iconography nor the painting decorating the interior of the shrine have been paid much attention. This research note provides descriptions of the distinctive features of its sculpture, painting, and shrine. By studying these elements from a holistic perspective, this study proposes several new iconographic readings. The sculpture and its shrine should not only be evaluated as a masterpiece of medieval Japanese Buddhist art, but also be viewed as a dense sacred space, created through a harmonious entity of sculpting, painting, and other craftmanship. At the same time, this piece reflects the complexity of nāga (ryūjin) worship in medieval Japan, which requires further research.
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