Extermination of Evil, National Treasure painting series in Nara, Japan

Extermination of Evil (Hekija-e) is a set of five hanging scroll paintings in the Nara National Museum, made in the 12th century and mounted separately after being cut from a single handscroll. Each shows a benevolent deity subduing demons, with a calligraphy inscription on the right. The photograph shows one scroll: a pale, muscular demon with wild black hair, a small gold crown and a green skirt, holding a dark object on a stick while smaller demons writhe at its feet.

The five paintings are thought to date from the 12th century, in the late Heian or early Kamakura period, and are linked to the reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. They were probably part of a single handscroll stored at Rengeō-in (now Sanjūsangen-dō) and known as the second Masuda family hell scroll. After the war the scroll was cut into five hanging scrolls. They were designated National Treasures on 6 June 1985.

The five deities come from Japanese, Chinese, and Indian traditions, each embodying different protective roles that people sought in their daily lives. Visitors can see how these figures were revered in religious practice and continue to shape Japanese artistic and spiritual traditions today.

The paintings are on display in Nara National Museum, where visitors can view them alongside explanatory materials. Plan enough time to study the detailed works and read the descriptions to better understand the different deities and their meanings.

Each deity has a specific protective role: Sendan kendatsuba guards the young, while Shōki confronts demons through physical combat. These distinct roles show how different aspects of life were protected by different supernatural powers in religious belief.