Important Cultural Property
Star Mandala
Data
| Period | Heian period, dated 1113 |
|---|---|
| Materials and techniques | Booklet of sixteen sheets, ink on paper |
| Size | 28.0×16.0 |
Explanation
Star Mandala is a diagrammatic picture expressing the cosmic views of esoteric Buddhism. It shows the order of the universe by illustrating Buddhist divinities that correspond to the seven stars of the Big Dipper, the Nine Luminaries, the twelve zodiac signs and the 28 lunar mansions. This fragment is the remaining section of a mandala made into a booklet. Explanation of the rituals is written below each divinity. A colophon states June 23, 1113, which is valuable in proving the production year. Formerly owned by Tōji temple, Kyoto.