Banner from Nekka Temple on Shikoku. The banner was designed to be framed or hung on a wall to ward off evil spirits. These banners were given out by temples to whose who came through on a pilgramage. Nekka Temple on Shikoku , where this banner is from, was the 82nd station of the pilgramage. The banner is made of off-white cotton. The design appears to be stencil dyed with tea. The long edges are selvages, and the two short edges are cut and fraying slightly. The design in the middle of the banner is varying shades of brown, darker around the edges. It depicts an ushi-ono, or devil-ox, a mythical monster designed to ward off evil spirits. The ushi-ono has the face and horns of an ox, with sharp teeth and claws, and what appear to be scales. He is standing upright with his arms raised in a menacing pose, facing to the left. There are lines of Kanji reading, "Shikoku Nakkaji. 82nd Station. To protect you from evil spirits." There is also a line of Hiragana reading "ushi-ono" or devil-ox. All the calligraphy is written in black ink. The front of the banner is faded and the cut edges are slightly frayed, but otherwise it is in good condition.

1995.025