Depiction of Nirvana

This Depiction of Nirvana was originally donated to Tenryūji Temple in now Shinagawa ward, Tokyo Prefecture, on February 15, Hōreki 3 (1763).

Later, on July 15, Meiji 16 (1883), it was donated as a fixture of the Sendan-Rin School, and is now in the possession of Komazawa University.

Currently, the Depiction of Nirvana and the "back label of depiction of Nirvana" on which the origin of the drawing is written, are mounted for hanging scrolls separately.

The Depiction of Nirvana is an iconographic representation of the scene of the Śākyamuni’s death. It is said that Śākyamuni died on February 15, since ancient times in Japan, regardless of religious denomination, people have held up the depiction of Nirvan and held Pari Nirvana Day to commemorate the legacy of Śākyamuni.

In this painting, Śākyamuni is lying under a pair of Sal trees in the north, south, east and west respectively, surrounded by numerous bodhisattvas, Devas (Heavenly deities), and animals in addition to the disciples.

This style is the basic composition of JapaneseDepiction of Nirvanadegs, and its production required a great deal of time and money.

The owner who originally donated this depiction to Tenryūji Temple was Fukuoka Hachibei, a parishioner of the temple who ran a merchant house, Maruya, in Shinbashi. Fukuoka had this painting painted by Bogetsusai Fubun, a painter in Yanaginobanba, Shijōdōri, Kyoto Prefecture, and had it mounted by a Hyōgushi (who crafts hanging scrolls) Sanjuken Tsuda Shuzen (the position in charge of food preparation at court) in Kyoto Prefecture.

Later, this depiction was donated to the Sendan-Rin School, which had just opened on October 15 of the previous year in Kitahigakubo town, Azabu Ward, Tokyo Prefecture. It was donated by Ōta Nihei of Shinagawa and Ōta Jihei of Yokohama, both parishioners of Tenryūji Temple, in commemoration of the opening of the main lecture hall of the Sendan-Rin School. The date of donation, July 15, is thought to be in honor of the Urabon-e.

For these reasons, this depiction is an extremely valuable resource for the history of Komazawa University.