Minneapolis Institute of Art

(Nichren Fighting with the Swordmen)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi; Publisher: Iseya Rihei

Date

c. 1831

Medium

Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222-1281) founded the Nichiren sect of Buddhism in response to the reigning sects of Pure Land Buddhism in 13th-century Japan. Based on the Lotus sutra, this sect was highly controversial at the time. Nichiren and his followers were often taunted and ridiculed. In this scene, Nichiren holds his glowing rosary in the air. The light emitting from the rosary blinds his attackers, allowing his disciple to escape at the left of the scene. This print calls to mind Nichiren’s failed execution, in which a large glowing orb appeared in the sky, blinding and confusing Nichiren’s executioner. Asia

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