Ban Dainagon Ekotoba, National Treasure scroll painting at Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, Japan
Ban Dainagon Ekotoba comprises three painted scrolls crafted on washi paper using Iwaenogu mineral pigments. Each scroll stands about 31.5 centimeters tall and together they stretch over 26 meters in length with continuous painted scenes.
Tokiwa Mitsunaga created the scrolls in the late 12th century as a visual account of the Otemmon Conspiracy from 866. His work captured the political intrigue surrounding the imperial gate fire and the power struggles that followed.
The scrolls combine two distinct Japanese painting styles: otoko-e with calligraphic lines and tsukuri-e with thick layers of bright colors.
The Idemitsu Museum in Chiyoda preserves the complete three-volume set under controlled conditions. Due to their fragility, the originals are displayed only occasionally and are usually replaced by high-quality reproductions.
The narrative technique displays multiple time sequences within single scenes, creating a cinematic effect. This method emerged centuries before moving pictures were invented.
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