Kiyomizu-yaki clay dolls from Mibu Kyogen, with a history of approximately 700 years
Mibu-dera Temple in Kyoto, a Ritsu sect temple, was founded in 991 and has a history of over 1,000 years. This temple has been home to a kyogen form called "Mibu Dainenbutsu Kyogen" for about 700 years. Its origins date back to the Kamakura period, when Engaku Shonin greatly promoted the prosperity of Mibu-dera Temple.
At the time, hundreds of thousands of people sought his teachings, and he was so popular that he was called "Juman Shonin." In front of such large crowds, the idea was born to find a way to preach the teachings of Buddha in an easy-to-understand way, and so "Jisai Yuzu Nembutsu," which incorporates pantomime with gestures, was born.
This is the basis of the current Mibu Dainenbutsu Kyogen. What we would like to introduce today is a Kyogen doll, a gift given to those who wish to play a role in a Kyogen play, made into a clay doll. The Nue in the photo is a monster that appears in the play "Nue," and has a strange appearance with the body of a tiger, the head of a monkey, and the tail of a snake.
