Gaki Zoshi (Stories of Hungry Ghosts)

This narrative handscroll deals with the theme of salvation from the perpetual state of hunger and thirst suffered in the realm of the hungry ghost (gaki), which is among the six realms of rebirth (rokudo). The scroll shows how offering water to the ancestral grave is a form of repose to the hungry ghosts. Also depicted are scenes of how Maudgalyayana (Mokuren), one of the Buddha's ten great disciples, saved his mother from this realm by starting the ullambana (obon) ceremony of making oblations to the dead as well as scenes of how to hold memorial services for the deceased.

— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.