A section of the handscroll Legends of Mount Shigi: The Flying Granary illustrates a dynamic scene in ink and color on paper, dating from the 12th century Heian period. The composition features a group of figures gathered along a shore, with several individuals gesturing upwards toward a granary that appears to be floating above the water. The figures are rendered with expressive lines and subtle coloration, and the setting includes architectural elements and stylized waves. The handscroll format, with its continuous narrative structure, was a prominent mode of storytelling in 12th-century Japan.

Works of this kind often depicted religious or legendary subjects with vivid imagery and lively figural groupings. Legends of Mount Shigi is an example of emakimono, a genre that flourished during the Heian period (794–1185), characterized by its combination of painting and calligraphy to recount notable tales. This scroll is attributed to an unknown artist and is believed to have been produced around 1150.