Illustrated Miracles of the Kasuga Deity, Volume 19 Scene 1
This sprawling landscape of late-autumn trees powdered with the first snows of winter represents the sacred dwelling place of the Kasuga deities. The scene occurs immediately after bandits steal fourteen sacred mirrors from Kasuga Taisha Shrine and is thought to portray the silent rage of the gods. It functions as a quiet pause before the shocking violence that immediately follows, as warrior monks from Kofukuji Temple attack the bandits and recover three of the stolen mirrors. The monks’ involvement emphasizes the spiritual relationship between Kofukuji and Kasuga Taisha, the family temple and tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara clan, respectively.