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

　This panel painting, “Mandala of the Two Worlds (Ryogai Mandara),” is enshrined in a small elegant cabinet (zushi), which has similar double doors on the front and the back so that the mandalas can be appreciated from either side.
　The painting is done on a cloth applied white pigment (hakudo) pasted on a cypress board and features elaborate details in each small section. The design follows that of “Original Image Mandala (Genzu Mandara)” brought into Japan by the founder of Shingon sect, Kukai (Kobo Daishi). However, the Mandala of the Womb World (Skt. Garbhadhātu) differs from that of Genzu Mandala in that the Hall of Ākāśagarbha (Kokuzo-in) is divided into upper and lower parts and the Senju Kannon (Skt. Sahasrabhuja-avalokiteśvara) and Kongo Zao (Skt. Aṣṭottaraśatabhujavajradhara) representations are relatively small in the upper part. This Mandala excels in decoration, such as the use of cut gold leaf (kirikane) lines in dividing lines, halos, the clothing lines of the primary deity, the complicated background patterns (jimoyo) in the Womb Realm and in the mesh-like patterns (kagome mon) surrounding the area, Shiin-e, in the Diamond World.
　The deities are painted in flesh color with red shading (shu guma) and drawn with thin black lines. The clothes are painted in vermilion, synthetic orange and green, while the clothing lines are drawn in black. The petals of the lotus seat (rengeza) are painted in vermilion and synthetic orange and outlined in white. The child-like facial expressions on the deities, the bright high-quality pigments and the beauty of the intricate kirikane patterns and the coloring all contribute to convey the atmosphere of the late Heian period. The year of creation must be after the early Kamakura period. The black lacquered small zushi was created during the same period and represents the traditions of the late Heian period. This Manadala was originally owned by Shojuraikoji Temple in Shiga Prefecture.