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Important Cultural Property

The Biography of the Monk Hōnen

法然上人絵伝
The Biography of the Monk Hōnen (法然上人絵伝)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Painting · Nanbokuchō period, 14th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category
Paintings
Date
1301–1400
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-47554

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This scroll, viewed from right to left, depicts how miracles occurred when the esteemed Buddhist monk Honen (1133—1212) passed away after his return to Kyoto from time in exile.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “The Biography of the Monk Hōnen（法然上人絵伝）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-47554. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/the-biography-of-the-monk-h-nen/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Painting
  • Category: Paintings, sketches, and prints:Japan:Yamato-e
  • Material: Color on paper
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • 員数: 1巻
  • 分類: 絵画
  • 品質形状: 紙本着色
  • 種別: 絵画:日本:やまと絵
  • 法量: 32.7x1409.3

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