Description
Emperor Kanmu (737-806) was born the crown prince of Emperor Konin (709-781) and was enthroned in 781. He moved the ancient capital from Nara (Jp. Heijyo-Kyo) to Nagaoka and then to Kyoto (Jp. Heian-Kyo) in 794. He commissioned Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro (758-811) to conquer the indigenous Ezo tribe in the northern territories and sent Priest Saicho (766-822) and Priest Kukai (774-835) to Tang Dynasty China to study Buddhism. After these men returned, Emperor Kanmu appointed Saicho to a high office and helped him establish the Tendai Sect of Buddhism. The emperor contributed greatly to revitalize the ancient administration system based on the rule of law, for example. He established imperial agencies and offices as executive branches of the imperial government. In this portrait, Emperor Kanmu sits on a chair with a backrest placed on a tatami mat with decorated borders, with the interior design resembling a shrine or altar. He is fully clothed in formal coronation attire. Most likely, this portrait was a deified image drawn to be worshipped, for example, on the occasion of annual ceremonies given on March 17 in the emperor’s honor at the Enryakuji Temple in Mt. Hiei. (This temple was founded by the aforementioned Priest Saicho. The ceremony is called the “Tenno-Ko.”) The majesty emanating from the large portrait is one of the best renditions of this powerful ancient ruler.
Data source
Keio Object Hub
Keio University has a diverse collection of cultural assets that have been assembled over its 160-year history. These collections are housed and used not only in libraries and research institutes, but...
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Keio University
Over the course of its 160-year-plus history, Keio University has accumulated a vast collection of cultural artifacts from a diverse range of academic spheres. These collections are held and used not only in Keio’s libraries and research institutes but also at its undergraduate faculties, affiliated schools, and various other locations on campus, and a rich array of databases for the collections have been compiled reflecting the expertise of these respective institutions. Now, Keio Museum Commons (KeMCo) has developed the Keio Object Hub portal site, which provides a comprehensive overview of art and culture at Keio University.
Last updated
July 3, 2022