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Pitt Rivers Museum

1985.53.498

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


1985.53.498

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Collection type
Object
Description
Amulet, paper envelope with inscription and red stamp, containing a paper with a picture of Doryo and inscription. [El.B 23/10/2013]
Long description
Amulet, paper envelope with inscription and red stamp, containing a paper with a picture of Doryo and inscription. The envelope is glued shut. On the back it is stamped with a red fan. Attached to 1985.53.499. [El.B 23/10/2013]
Geographical reference
Kanagawa Odawara Miyanoshita
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 125 mm, Length: max 214 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1985.53.498 Other numbers: 07 40
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]

The inscription on this object was transcribed and translated by Fusa McLynn who volunteered at the Museum in 2013 as: “Tozoku yoke Saijo-ji”, Amulet from Saijo-ji temple for protection against thieves. [FB 12/03/2015]

Search terms: Religion, Writing, Picture and Graphic Art, Amulet, Inscription, Print