Originally, we took this lovely image of a Beauty or a Goddess to be a manifestation of Guanyin or Kannon, but after checking the iconography, we have concluded that she is an image of the Shinto sun goddess Ameratsu holding her sunbeam spinning Distaff.

"Amaterasu (天照?), Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大神／天照大御神／天照皇大神?) or Ōhirume-no-muchi-no-kami (大日孁貴神?) is a part of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is seen as the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. The name Amaterasu derived from Amateru means "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great august kami (god) who shines in the heaven".[N 1] According to the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in Japanese mythology, the Emperors of Japan are considered to be direct descendants of Amaterasu." Wikipedia.

Measuring approx 79 1/2" x 21 1/2" (scroll); 50 1/4" x 15 3/4" (image), the painting is ink and color on paper mounted with silk. Condition: Colors vibrant and strong; usual damp staining to lower sixth of image plus two damp stains in upper right of the image. Tearing where fabric meets the scroll bars; scroll knobs lacking. Price reflects these issues.

Any questions, please email. And please check out the other Japanese scrolls and paintings in our shop. Thanks for visiting!