Tutelary Deities and Administrators of Wakasa Province

This scroll begins with the origin tale (engi) of the Wakasahiko (male) and Wakasahime (female) Shrines. The following section portrays the successive Shinto priests, who administered the shrines from the time the two deities were enshrined. The priests of odd-numbered generations are portrayed as divine figures sitting on daises in front of standing screens, while priests of even-numbered generations are shown as human beings sitting on tatami mats. Since divine and human figures alternate, this scroll is sometimes called Shinjin-e Keizu (Illustrated Genealogy of Deities and Men). On display for this current exhibition are scenes of the descent and enshrinement of the two Wakasa deities, which are depicted in the classical style of continuous narration with short annotations and commentaries explaining certain scenes. The clear but light coloration and firm but simple are characteristic features.

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