"Near the ancient capital of Nara in central Japan stands the Kasuga Shrine of the old court nobility. The Kasuga Gongen genki ("Miracles of the Kasuga Deity") is a magnificent set of twenty illustrated handscrolls that in 1309 were presented to the Shrine by the leading nobles. These scrolls are known for their paintings, but the accompanying text has never before been translated into another language, and the cult which they represent has never previously been properly examined."--Book jacket.