Gempei War, 1180-1185

Genshin 源信 , 985 text, Ôjôyôshû 往生要集 describing the “six realms” or rokudô 六道

1.   gods or kami 神／天道

2.   ashura or blood-letters 阿修羅道

3.   humans 人道

4.   animals 畜道

5.   ghosts 餓鬼道

6.   hell-dwellers 地獄

Hell scrolls (jigoku zôshi 地獄草紙) .   Late 12th century.   Handscroll, color, paper; H:   10 1/2 in.   [Mason, fig. 245]

•  hell of pulling off skin

•  horsehead pushing people back into hell

•  hell of mortars

•  hell of pus and blood

•  hell of fire

•  hell of excrement

Hungry Ghost Scrolls (gaki zôshi 餓鬼草紙).    Late 12th century.   Handscroll, color, paper; H: 10 1/2 in.  

•  feeding ghosts

•  ghosts eating excrement

•  ghost being tortured

•  ghost approaching Jizo Bosatsu for help

•  graveyard scene

•  ghost at dump

Notebook of Illnesses (yamai no sôshi 病の草紙).   Late 12th century.   Handscroll, ink, color, paper; H: 10 in. [Mason, fig. 244]

•  insomnia

•  toothache

•  bad breath

•  eye diseases

•  body lice

•  obesity

•  hermaphrodite

•  black noses

Mountain-crossing Amida (yamagoshi raigô 山越来 迎).   13th century.   Hanging scroll, ink, color, silk; 51 x 46 1/2 in. [Mason, fig. 242]