"The outer surface was crafted from unmarked wood, while the interior was adorned with various images of arhats, bedecked with leaves of silver and gold — truly, a magnificent drum unmatched in all of Japan!"

The tale was inspired by an historical event in 1295 when Tōdaiji Temple refused to lend a Ruyi ceremonial scepter (Nyoi in Japanese), to Kōfukuji Temple. This led to Imperial intervention to resolve the dispute and allow the ceremony to proceed.​​

While the story itself doesn’t mention lions, the taiko in the illustration features one, a visual link to the historical reference.​

The ceremony depicted in this scene is the Yuima-e, a ritual held at Kōfukuji Temple to honor Vimalakīrti, a revered lay Buddhist figure. The annual event features a procession of sacred objects and the chanting of sutras.​

Taiko used in such ceremonies were generally Da-Daiko for court music.  The one pictured here is one meant for timekeeping.​

Kōfukuji Temple's Nandaimon Gate is featured in the bottom right of the illustration.