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

　　These are three hanging pictures depicting the Mandalas of the Two World (Ryōgai Mandara) and the Dragon Kurikara (Skt. Kulika Nāgarāja) and Two Child Acolytes. The Diamond World of the Two World Mandala comprises 81 deities including 61 deities in central precinct followed by the sixteen bodhisattvas and the four Great Wisdoms. Both the Two World show the same style as the Monochrome Mandala of the Womb World enshrined at Mount Hiei (owned by Daigoji Temple) and are based on the iconography of the Tendai sect.
　　The Dragon Kurikara and Two Child Acolytes image depicts the Dragon King Kurikara winding about the three-pronged sword and Kongara (Skt. Kiṃkara) and Seitaka (Skt. Ceṭaka) standing on a rock in the sea. The Dragon King Kurikara is an avatar of Fudō Myōō (Skt. Acala) and is represented in accordance with the Ritual Manual of the Dragon King Kurikara. The vibrant ink lines depicting dynamic flames and the clothing lines of Two Children make the drawing lively.
　　Although all three drawings are estimated to have been created in 13th century of the Kamakura period (1185–1333), the Dragon Kurikara and Two Child Acolytes drawing seems to have been created earlier and further studies are required to establish if these three drawings were initially made as a set. The same mounting method is used on the three drawings and the note written on the old bar of the Mandala of the Womb World with ink (Kyōhō 6, 1721) says that these were handed down to Sefukuji Temple in Ōsaka. This Temple had long been a temple of the Shingon sect, but it was converted to the Tendai sect during the Kan’ei era (1624–1644) in the Edo period (1603–1868). While the time when these three drawings were combined into a set is unknown, it is estimated that they were handed down to Sefukuji Temple after the conversion of the sect.