National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Kakebotoke is a mirror like copper plaque with a Buddhist figure carved in relief or in the round, which is equipped with an implement for hanging. This is thought to have been derived from Kyozo. This is a Sanno Mandara Kakebotoke where respected Buddhist figures from Sanno jissya (10 temples or shrines from Sanno) are carved on a round copper plate using a fine-carving technique called Kebori. The rim of the round copper plate has a Fukurin and a Hanagatakanza (flower shaped clasp) and Tsurikan (a ring for hanging) are on the upper side. Monk-shaped Omiya figures in relief are carved in the center on a grand scale surrounded by Hachioji (male god), Shoshinji (monk shaped), Ninomiya (monk shaped), Daigyoji (monkey god), Ushimiko (Gagyu), Hayao (male god), Jyuzenji (Jizo shaped), Maroudo (female god) and Sannomiya (female god) in a clockwise direction. Their names are inscribed on the back and the following are inscribed in the center by Harigaki (needle drawing). “阿蘇谷預主也／建保六年［歳次／戊寅］七月十九日／阿蘇谷預所院主惣公文／中御子平景俊” . According to the inscriptions, this article was made by Kagetoshi Taira who was the regional government official from Asodani (Suemura, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto) in 1218. This is a precious Kakebotoke representing the early Kamakura period and is notable as an article related to Hiyoshi Sanno.