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

Shoken was a priest in the early Kamakura period and also called Kakutoin Jiju Sojo. He was a son of Shonagon Sinzei. After 1160, he became the head of Daigoji Temple three times and the head of Toji Temple once. This scroll describes a rainmaking ritual conducted at Daigoji Temple from May 7 to 25 in 1191 to pray for the termination of the terrible drought. Since other letters by Shoken's handwriting and notes in kana are written on the back of this scroll, it also serves as a valuable historical material. The postscript at the end says these ritual procedures were passed over to his disciple Seigen.