Guided Tours & Events

The God Zaō Gongen is a large bronze mirror engraved with an image of the deity Zaō Gongen and his attendants. An inscription on the back reveals that it was produced in the year 1001 at the Takumiryō, an imperial government bureau responsible for crafts and architecture. Later it was acquired by a Buddist temple in Tokyo known as Sōjiji.
The mirror is the oldest known example of a dated Zaō Gongen image, and its graceful linework demonstrates exceptional artistry. Scholars believe that imperial court painters may have been involved in preparing the underdrawing, making this image an invaluable work that fills a gap in the surviving pictorial heritage of the Heian period (794–1192).
The front of the mirror shows Zaō Gongen and his thirty-two attendants, while the back bears sacred characters known as “seed syllables” representing the Five deities, beginning with Dainichi Buddha of the Womb World. Three mantras, or mystical incantations, are also included.
However, these elements are engraved in extremely fine lines and are difficult to see today. A holographic projection system has been installed to make these elements and their relative positions clearly visible. Please enjoy this two-minute holographic video to experience the splendor and mystery of this sacred National Treasure.

The seed syllables and mantras on the back

Zaō Gongen is a deity unique to Shugendō, a Japanese mountain religion that combines elements of Buddhism and local beliefs. According to tradition, En no Gyōja, a semi-legendary mystic and the founder of Shugendō, witnessed Zaō Gongen in a vision while engaged in ascetic training in the Kinpu mountain range in Yoshino. Zaō Gongen is believed to embody the virtues of Śākyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, as well as two compassionate beings called bodhisattvas: Thousand-Armed Kannon and Miroku.

Front