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Concise Illustrated Biography of Monk Nichiren: Rock Suspended by the Power of Prayer on Komuro Mountain

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Colorful illustration of four monks in a mountainous landscape. The scene shows a dirt path bordered by a tall red cliff on the left and a smaller red cliff on the right. The cliff on the left drops down a steep snowy slope. Two monks kneel on the left; one wears a long orange robe and the other a shorter gray robe. The monk in orange looks up at a large red boulder wedged in the cliff. On the right, two warriors approach from the right; both wear armor with green pants and orange jackets. The warrior on the left holds a long spear and has one foot on a low railing. The warrior on the right holds a shield. The background features a body of water and distant trees along the shoreline. Beyond the water, a mountain rises with subtle shading. The sky gradates from blue at the top to white near the horizon. Small trees grow from the cliffs. The illustration is signed in the bottom-right corner.

Artwork Details

Date
1835–36
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
599 × 394 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette