“Jūō-shinkō” spread in Japan during the 11th century and after.

The “Jūō”, ten kings, are regarded as an awesome existence because they decide whether the dead should be sent to “jigoku” (Hell, one of the posthumous realms advocated by Buddhism) and preside over the “Rokudō-rinne” (transmigration in the six posthumous realms advocated by Buddhism) in light of the seriousness of the karma belonging to the dead. In Jūō-shinkō, the faithful beg for the mercy from the ten judges, who decide to which realm the dead would go.

In the Kamakura period, the Japanese believed that each one of Jūō corresponded with each of “Jūbutsu” (10 Buddhas); the number grew as time went by, and in the Edo period, “Jūsan-butsu-shinkō” (the 13 Buddhas belief) was born.

Buddhist memorial services were customarily held seven times every seven days because the bereaved family could pray to the Jūō to seek commutation for the dead person at every trial, while additional memorial services were held in line with the additional three trials that supposedly functioned to save all dead persons.

The Jūsan-butsu painting kakejiku (hanging scroll) is often displayed in Buddhist memorial services.

This is a painting of Jūsan-butsu by Kinoshita Yumeji. The depiction of 13 Buddhas is very elaborate and gold paint of the piece is very gorgeous. The solemn dignity of the 13 Buddhas is expressed very well, and the gold paint makes the piece gorgeous.