En no Gyoja 役行者 Ascetic Bosatsu 19th Century Japanese Carved Butsudan Zushi Shrine

Antique Japanese Lacquered Wood Zushi En no Gyoja 役行者 Great Bodhisattva Jinben, 神変大菩薩 Edo Period. Circa: Early 19th century Figure: H 9 in. (23cm), W 3.5 in. (9cm), D 2.25 in. (5.5cm) Zushi: H. 11 inches (28cm) Aged minor abrasions, good condition! Enshrined in a lacquered Zushi, this small and spirited statue is a rare representation of En no Gyoja (En no Ozuno 役小角), the legendary founder of the syncretic religion Shugendo sect in the early 8th century, and later granted the honorary title: Bodhisattva of Divine Change by Emperor Kokaku in the 18th century. En no Gyoja is believed to have incorporated various aspects of Taoism, Shinto, esoteric Buddhism in spiritual practices, and lived an itinerant life in the mountains by manipulating demonic spirits, making them draw water and gather firewood as servants, and bound them by using incantation and wizardry. For all Yamabushi and mountain ascetics, as well as those who practiced spiritual devotion in secular life, En-no-Gyoja is regard