Graduate Student

Elizabeth Morrissey studies Japanese pre-modern art, with a focus on illustrated handscrolls (e-maki).  Her MA thesis addressed the inclusion of what appear to be secret or hidden esoteric Buddhist rituals in the illustrations of the Ishiyama-dera engi-e, a 14^th century handscroll recording the history and miracles of the temple Ishiyama-dera.  She continues to be interested in the presence of hidden or restricted elements in the visual format of the illustrated handscroll, including hibutsu (‘hidden Buddhas’) and esoteric rituals.