The Picture Scroll of the "Nine Faces" 九相詩絵巻

These images were produced in the thirteenth century as an illustration to a Buddhist poem from the early Heian period. The text of the poem is lost, but there is commentary to accompany each image, and I have provided brief excerpts or summaries below. Click on each thumbnail image to see the larger version.

The death of a beautiful young woman from disease

Seven days have passed since dying (right)--swelling, dislocation, hair scattered; body in an open field; faint sense of former beauty still visible. (left) Blood and pus ooze out of the body; intestines begin to rot and disintegrate; all sense of former beauty gone; all is ugly, decaying, filthy

(right) Flesh begins to disintegrate & scatter--body is no longer a coherent unit. (left) White maggots now swarm in the rotten flesh; body no longer swollen as it continues to break down; foul stench can be smelled in all directions

(right) Pitiful indeed! Bones begin to protrude; flesh nearly gone (left) Corpse has lost its human form; becomes food for other living things

Only bones and hair remain; a bird has the last bit of intestine

And the last of the nine "faces" is the bare ground.

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