Butsuga: Buddhist Painting

Butsuga (仏画), Buddhist painting, covers the images painted for worship, teaching and memorial in temples and homes. Hanging scrolls of deities and mandalas served as principal images for rituals and household altars, and some of the most refined paintings in Japanese history were made in this tradition.

Kinds of Buddhist painting

  • Icons. Single deities or triads for worship: Amida, Kannon, Fudō and many others.
  • Mandalas. The Two Realms, the Taima Mandala of the Pure Land and shrine mandalas.
  • Narrative scenes. Raigō, the nirvana of Shaka, the six realms and the courts of Enma.
  • Memorial sets. The Thirteen Buddhas for rites for the dead.
  • Portraits. Founders and masters such as Kūkai, and Zen portraits, chinsō.
  • Name scrolls. Calligraphic images of the Pure Land and Nichiren traditions.

Materials and techniques

  • Silk or paper. Painting on silk, kenpon, was preferred for finer work; paper, shihon, for others.
  • Mineral pigments. Malachite green, azurite blue, cinnabar red and white shell, laid in layers.
  • Gold. Gold paint, kindei, and cut gold foil, kirikane, laid in fine patterns on robes, the glory of Heian painting.

Periods and painters

Heian painting is soft, glowing and rich in cut gold. Kamakura painting absorbed the vigour of Song China. Specialist Buddhist painters, ebusshi, worked in temple workshops, and the Takuma school was among the most famous. In the Edo period, devotional scrolls were produced in quantity for households.

Collecting notes

  • Look at the silk: abrasion, splits and losses are common, and old repainting can hide them. Strong raking light helps.
  • A remounting is a normal part of a scroll's life; the quality of the mounting matters. See Caring for Hanging Scrolls.
  • Box inscriptions and temple seals can establish history. See Glossary of Box Inscriptions.

In the collection

Browse Buddhist paintings, hanging scrolls and scrolls and paintings. Our collector concierge can search Japan for a particular painting.

See also

Submit Your Case File

Every bespoke partnership begins with clarity. Tell us what you seek, what inspired you, and the boundaries of your project.


What Happens After You Submit

Your Case File is reviewed personally by a senior advisor. We examine your objectives, logistics requirements, cultural considerations, and practical constraints. You will receive a tailored proposal outlining recommended services, timelines, and all applicable fees.

  • Bespoke service design tailored to your specific needs
  • Museum-grade logistics for art, antiques, fashion, and collectibles
  • Transparent partnership with no hidden or surprise costs

“All fees, deposits, and retainers will be clearly presented for approval before any work begins.”

Your Case File

Please complete the form carefully. The more precise your information, the more accurately we can prepare your assessment.

All fields are required to submit this form.

Kindly allow us a brief moment to review your submission. A senior advisor will be in touch with your personalised next steps.

Thank you for entrusting us with your vision. We look forward to representing you with precision and discretion.