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Scenes from the Life of Nichiren Shônin: Contest of Faith with a Levitating Rock, at Komuroyama on the 28th Day of the 5th Month, 1274 (Bun'ei jûichi nen gogatsu nijûhachinichi komuroyama hôronseki no zu); Amulets That Counteract Poison (Dokukeshi no gofû no zu)


日蓮聖人一代記 「文永十一年五月廿八日小室山法論石之図」
Utagawa Yoshitora (Japanese, active about 1836–1887)
After: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861)
Japanese
Edo period

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.3 × 25.2 cm (14 5/16 × 9 15/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.41250
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionThe upper scene is based on a print by Yoshitora's teacher Kuniyoshi around 1835-6; the lower scene is apparently Yoshitora's own composition.
The amulets that counteract poison were made by Nichiren to save a white dog that had eaten the poisoned ricecakes meant for him, in another incident that occured in the 5th month of 1274.
毒消し秘妙符の由来」によりますと、護符
Signed Môsai Yoshitora ga
孟斎芳虎画
Marks No censor's seal
No blockcutter's mark
No publisher's mark
改印:なし
彫師:なし
版元:なし
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.