Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Tenjin Shrine (Kitano Tenjin engi emaki)

A Japanese painting on beige paper depicts a large mythical creature and two people. The creature has a lion-like body covered in black spots, a long tail with a tuft of hair at the end, flames around its body and face with multiple eyes. Its mouth is open showing sharp teeth. To the right of the creature, two people stand. One person wears a brown robe and a black hat, the other person sits and wears an orange robe. The background shows mountains and red flames.

Artwork Details

Date: late 13th century
Medium: Set of five handscrolls; ink, color, and cut gold leaf (kirikane) on paper
Culture: Japan
Dimensions: 600 × 303 px
Public Domain: Yes
Museum Record: View original

Palette