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1985.53.497.1

Amulet, paper envelope with inscription [.1], containing a picture of Doryo with inscription and red stamp. [El.B 23/10/2013]

1985.53.497.1

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Collection type
Object
Description
Amulet, paper envelope with inscription [.1], containing a picture of Doryo with inscription and red stamp. [El.B 23/10/2013]
Long description
Amulet, paper envelope with inscription [.1], containing a picture of a Doryo with inscription and red stamp. Doryo is standing on a fox and is surrounded by flames. [El.B 23/10/2013]
Geographical reference
Japan
Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan
Cultural groups
Japanese
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1907
Date collected
1907
Acquisition information
Loaned: 1985
Materials and processes
Material Paper Plant, Material Ink, Process Printed, Process Written, Process Stamped
Dimensions
Width: max 76 mm, Width: max 72 mm, Length: max 245 mm, Length: max 183 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1985.53.497.1 Accession number: 1985.53.497.2 Other numbers: 07 37
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 23/10/2013]

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]

This amulet it identical to 1908.82.56 from the Chamberlain collection. The inscription on that object was transcribed and translated by Fusa McLynn who volunteered at the Museum in 2009 as: Written on the outside: “Kaichu mikage”. Written on the inside: “Saishu Saijo Zen ji”. [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: (Outside) “Kaichu miei”, Pocket-size divine image (Inside, below the image) “Soshu Saijozen-ji”, Saijozen-ji temple in Sagami province. [FB 12/03/2015]

Associated publications
Illustrated in colour in the pamphlet accompanying the Reading Room displays at the Welcome Collection with the caption “Envelope with inscription Paper Japan RRa0221/1985.53.497 Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. This envelope includes an image of Doryo, a protective spirit associated with Saijoji Zen temple.” [FB 15/8/2016]

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