Yaksa (Yasha-o), from the series Kegon-fu

This print is from a set of 23 that detail the events of a chapter of the Kegon (Flower Garland) sutra, an image-rich Buddhist scripture originally written in the fourth century. In the sacred text, young Sudhana seeks enlightenment by talking with several deities and teachers. Here Vairocana, the Supreme Cosmic Buddha (at left), and Yaksa, a demon god (at right), are pictured. They are part of Munakata Shikō’s first series devoted to Buddhist images.