The Ten Rasetsunyo (J. Jūrasetsunyo, S. Rākṣasis) kept at Ishiyama-dera Temple is a unique set of paintings that depicts the Ten Rasetsunyo in three groups on two separate scrolls. Since historical records indicate that belief in the Lotus Sutra overlapped with the Nine Grades of Birth (kubon-ōjō), I propose this painting was originally made as an Amida of the Nine Levels of Birth in Paradise (Kubon raigōzu) that depicted the Ten Rasetsunyo in separate compositions. 
When comparing the iconography of the Ishiyama-dera Temple Ten Rasetsunyo to the paintings of Fugen (Sk. Samantabhadra) and the Ten Rasetsunyo formerly owned by the Masuda family, in which the Ten Rasetsunyo follows the archetype of Japanese iconography of the subject, and the Ten Rasetsunyo of Daifukuji Temple, where the Ten Rasetsunyo relates to Chinese iconography of the subject, it becomes clear that the Ten Rasetsunyo at Ishiyama-dera Temple refers to both of these different iconographic lineages. Finally, I argue that the family behind the production of this painting was probably the Tōin Family, which brought forth both emperors of the Daikakuji and Jimyōin lineages.

特集 : 林温教授 退職記念号