In the context of Ippen Shōnin Eden, analyze the Description of the Shōkai version (1299): Ippen hijiri-e.
The very first version, known as that of Shōkai (disciple and close to Ippen during his lifetime), was completed in 1299, ten years after the monk's death, and remains the best known and most studied by historians and specialists in art history: with it, the art of the emakimono reaches "one of its peaks". The work consists of twelve scrolls 0.38 m (1 ft 3 in) high and 9.22 m × 10.90 m (30.2 ft × 35.8 ft) long, which have the distinction of being in silk (probably to mark the importance of the monk) and not in paper as is most common.Its creation in 1299 is attributed to Shōkai, author of the text, while the paintings were carried out under the direction of the painter En'i (円伊), probably a disciple of Ippen during his lifetime, as evidenced by the faithful transcription of his life, and who could have been a high priest of Onjō-ji or a professional painter linked to the Imperial Court. The exact role of En'i remains open to interpretation: the size of the emakimono and variations in styles suggest that several assistants probably collaborated under the direction of the master. Stylistic studies enable the linking of the paintings with the workshops of the Onjō-ji (Mii-dera) and Shōgo-in temples, due to the proximity of mandalas conceived by the workshops. Four main styles have been identified for the calligraphy, the work of several aristocrats of the Imperial Court led by Sesonji Tsunetada, and carried out separately on silk coupons of various colours.The sponsor is not known for sure or named on the colophon. The quality and richness of the work, carried out on silk, a luxury material and support of only one other emakimono known today (the Kasuga Gongen Genki E), strongly suggest an order from a wealthy patron of the court, probably a Ji-shū convert, to make an offering to Kankikō-ji. The most commonly advanced hypothesis as to the identity of this patron is that of the Grand Chancellor Kujō Tadanori.Recognised as a National Treasure of Japan, the emakimono belongs to the Kankikō-ji temple in Kyoto (founded by Shōkai with the support of Kujō Tadanori), but is now kept in the National Museums of Kyoto and Nara. Part of Scroll VII, stored at the Tokyo National Museum since 1951, and a fragment of Scroll VI belonging to a private collector, were detached at the beginning of the Meiji era. Their state of preservation is generally good, despite a few lost or erased fragments.
National Treasure of Japan Shōkai ink Kujō Tadanori silk Ippen mandalas Nara Shōgo-in National Treasure Mii-dera Kyoto En'i Meiji era Tokyo National Museum emakimono Kasuga Gongen Genki E colophon Kankikō-ji