Japanese Print "Scene Below the Nachi Mountain Waterfall: Mongaku Shonin (Endo Morito) Saved by Fudo Myoo, and his Attendants Seitaka-doji and Kongara-doji" by Toyohara Kunichika

Artist:Toyohara Kunichika

Title:Scene Below the Nachi Mountain Waterfall: Mongaku Shonin (Endo Morito) Saved by Fudo Myoo, and his Attendants Seitaka-doji and Kongara-doji

Date:1893

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Source:Worcester Art Museum
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Description:

Deeply regretting the unintentional murder of his lover Kesa, Morito became a monk and assumed the name Mongaku Shonin. As atonement he went on a pilgrimage and began a lengthy penance under the icy Nachi waterfall. According to legend Morito/Mongaku almost froze to death but endured, thanks to the Esoteric Buddhist deity Fudo Myoo. The hardships of the ill-fated Morito/Mongaku were recorded in early classics and captured the imagination of later playwrights. This triptych illustrates a scene from the Kabuki play, Mongaku at Nachi Waterfall, showing actors in the roles of Mongaku, holding a bell and a Buddhist rosary; Fudo Myoo with flaming halo, sword and noose (to catch evil and tie together the faithful); and his acolytes, the white Kongara-doji holding a lotus and the red Seitaka-doji leaning on a gilt iron staff (tetsu-bo). Japanese warriors often prayed for strength to the wrathful, "immovable" Fudo Myoo and decorated their swords, armor and helmets armor with his bonji (sacred Sanskrit character).

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