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Japan: Image from the Kyoto Ghosts Scroll which describes the realm of the hungry ghosts and how to placate them. Late 12th century.

Japan: Image from the Kyoto Ghosts Scroll which describes the realm of the hungry ghosts and how to placate them. Late 12th century.

First section of the Hungry Ghosts Scroll located at the Kyoto National Museum. The scroll depicts the world of the hungry ghosts, one of the six realms of Buddhism and contains tales of salvation of the hungry ghosts. This particular section explains how those who have been born as hungry ghosts are saved by the offerings of the living. It relates the story of one of the thirty-six types of hungry ghosts who constantly seek water to drink and depicts the suffering of these creatures. The whole scroll has been designated a National Treasure of Japan in the category paintings. It was possibly part of a set of scrolls depicting the six realms which was kept at Sanjūsangen-dō.

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