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1985.53.482

Amulet, paper envelope containing slip of paper, all bound with a red strip of paper. [El.B 21/10/2013]

1985.53.482

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Collection type
Object
Description
Amulet, paper envelope containing slip of paper, all bound with a red strip of paper. [El.B 21/10/2013]
Long description
Amulet, paper envelope containing slip of paper, all bound with a red strip of paper. The envelope has an inscription in black and a stamp in red. The slip of paper is also inscribed in black. [El.B 21/10/2013]
Geographical reference
Japan
Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan
Kanagawa Odawara Miyanoshita
Cultural groups
Japanese
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1985
Date collected
by 1985
Acquisition information
Loaned: 1985
Materials and processes
Material Paper Plant, Material Ink, Process Printed, Process Stamped
Dimensions
Width: max 136 mm, Length: max 367 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1985.53.482 Other numbers: 07 43
Research and responses

Doryo Gongen is a protective spirit associated with the Saijo-ji temple. Saijo-ji is the temple name, not a place name. It is in Odawara in Kanagawa Prefecture. Miyanoshita is also in Kanagawa prefecture. It is home to the Soto temple Josen-ji. [El.B 22/10/2013]

Doryo was a local manifestation of a deity who became a Soto Zen monk. He vowed to protect the monastery after his death and metamorphosed into a Tengu. As such he appeared standing on a white fox surrounded by flames. His sacred site is Daiyuzan temple in Kanagawa Prefecture. A legend also connects him to Saijoji temple which he helped to build. See http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tengu.shtml#Doryo-Douryou-Daigongen. [El.B 23/10/2013]

The inscription on this object was transcribed and translated by Fusa McLynn who volunteered at the Museum in 2013 as: “Doryo daisatta go-kito haijitsu Daiyu-zan Saijo-ji”, Amulet from Saijo-ji temple at Daiyu-zan *Doryo is a legendary Buddhist priest who helped building Saijo-ji, and after the founder’s death, he became a tengu, a long-nosed goblin to guard the temple.. [FB 12/03/2015]

Search terms: Religion, Writing, Amulet, Inscription, Print