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

　　This Mandala of the One-syllable Golden Wheel is used as a principal icon of the esoteric Buddhist practice the One-Syllable Golden Wheel for good health and respect. It was initially allowed only for the chief priest of Toji Temple (Toji Choja), however, it became a tradition of Ninnaji Temple and Enshuji Temple after the late eleventh century, the mid Heian period (794–1185). In addition, it was used for the esoteric Buddhism of Tendai sect (Tai mitsu).
　　This painting is based on the following esoteric ritual manual about the Golden Wheel of Dainichi translated by the Tang priest Fuku: Kongo cho gyo Ichiji chorino yuga issai jisho nenju jobutsu giki (金剛頂経一字頂輪王瑜伽一切時処念誦成仏儀軌) (Ji sho ki (時処軌)). In short, the Golden Wheel of Dainichi (Dainichi kinrin) having a halo designed flame sits in the center on the lion pedestal while taking a hand gesture, Chiken’in, and a dharma wheel (rinpo) is placed at the lower front and then the potent auspicious seven treasures (shippo) including the sacred jewel (shuho), the sacred woman (nyoho), the sacred horse (meho), the sacred elephant (zoho), the sacred riches (shuzoho), the sacred soldier (syuheiho) and the Goddess of the Buddha’s Eye (Skt. Buddhalocanā) are placed in a clockwise direction.
　　The image of the Golden Wheel of Dainichi is drawn in deep vermillion lines and painted in pale white and the shading technique (kumadori) is applied in vermillion. These features create the sharp looking appearance. The clothes are painted pale whitish brown and decorated with patterns created by cut gold leaves (kirikane) and colors. The clothing accessories are rich in decorative nature as gold and silver leaves (kirihaku) etc., are used. The use of deep, mainly warm colors creates a sense of elegance as well as some kind of power, which has become one of the allures of this painting. In the background, the upper area is painted in blue to express a void (koku) and the lower area is painted in blue with checkered patterns (ishidatami mon) created with kirikane.