Aizen Myōō (Skt. Rāgarāja) is carved in relief within this small shrine that resembles an incense container; it is a shrine small enough to wear on one’s person. The sense of materiality to Aizen’s garments and the modeling of the deity’s form achieved in such a scale represent masterful carving technique. Buddhists of this period often prayed to Aizen for various personal needs, and the many examples of shrines like this one that have survived to the present day speak to the deity’s important role in private Buddhist practice.
 
MIMOTO ShusakuEnglish by Mary Lewine 
Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, p.341, no.116.