Tsukimine-dera (Geppoji) konryu shugyo engi (History of the Founding of the Geppoji Temple

This scroll is one of a pair relating the founding and subsequent history of the Tsukiminedera Temple. According to legend, Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi, 574-622), instructed the Korean Buddhist monk Nichira to select an auspicious site for a temple. After a prolonged search, Nichira was drawn by supernatural signs to a tree in Settsu Province. Shotoku arrived at the site, and when workmen felled the tree the earth trembled, and on the trunk stood a fully formed statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Kannon). Some workmen were stunned and others died from fright. They were revived by Nichira's prayers. From the mid-sixth century, Paekche, one of the three kingdoms on the Korean peninsula, sought alliance with Japan. Japan was initially exposed to Buddhism as a result. Prince Shotoku became a devout Buddhist and encouraged the assimilation of Korean culture.

Tosa Mitsunobu, head of the imperial painting bureau, was probably the artist; the calligraphy is likely by Fujiwara Kinnatsu (born 1463).  Such formidable talents were seldom engaged to produce histories of obscure provincial temples; it is possible that a prominent noble was given shelter at Tsukiminedera during the Onin War (1467-77), and the painting was commissioned out of gratitude.