Kirikane－Reproducing the National Treasure Kujaku Myo’o (Mahamayuri)

The Kujaku Myo’o hanging scroll was produced in the Heian period during the 12th century. This display reproduces two areas of the painting, recreating how the colors would have appeared on the original at the time of completion. The models illustrate the production process, and materials and tools used for kirikane are also on view.

Some details of how the original work was produced still remain unknown. Nonetheless, these models are based upon a close examination of the work in its present state, and we hope that they will contribute to the understanding of techniques involved in producing paintings of this kind.

We give our heartfelt thanks to the student volunteer Emi Miyako at Tokyo University of the Arts who produced the models, as well as to all who contributed to this exhibit.