En no Gyōja

En no Gyōja (役行者), En the Ascetic, was a holy man of the seventh century whom history records only briefly, as a sorcerer exiled in 699, and legend records abundantly, as the founder of Shugendō. He is said to have flown between mountains, commanded demons and called down Zaō Gongen on Mount Kinpu.

Japanese 役行者, En no Gyōja; En no Ozunu
Lived Seventh century
Honoured as Founder of Shugendō; Jinben Daibosatsu
Recognise by An old man with a long beard and a small cap, seated on a rock with a staff, wearing high sandals, flanked by two demons

Identifying En no Gyōja

En no Gyōja is shown as a gaunt, bearded elder seated on a rock, wearing a cap and a cloak of leaves or a monk's robe, holding a ringed staff and a sutra scroll. His high one-toothed sandals stand for his mountain journeys. Beside him crouch two demon attendants he subdued and converted: Zenki, the father demon, with an axe, and Goki, the mother demon, with a water jar.

The legend

He was said to have mastered the spell of Kujaku Myōō, to have forced the god of Mount Katsuragi to build a bridge, and to have walked on water and flown through the air. The court exiled him on charges of misleading the people. In 1799 he was granted the posthumous title Jinben Daibosatsu, Great Bodhisattva of Supernatural Change.

Collecting notes

  • Wooden and bronze figures of En no Gyōja with Zenki and Goki appear from Shugendō temples and mountain shrines. A complete trio is especially sought after.
  • His image is a favourite of carvers of small figures and portable shrines.

In the collection

Browse Shugendō pieces and portable shrines. Our collector concierge can search Japan for an image of En no Gyōja.

See also

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