Although the use of hemp cloth as a canvass media was quite rare, there were several pictures on hemp cloth in Nara period: The statue of Bosatsu of the Shoso-in treasures and Shaka Ryojusen seppo zu (Shakamuni Preaching on Mt. Ryojusen, currently in the possession of the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston) was originally located in the Todai-ji Temple.
麻布に描かれたものはまれであるが、正倉院宝物の菩薩像や東大寺伝来の釈迦霊鷲山説法図（ボストン美術館蔵）のような奈良時代の作品には麻布に描かれたものがある。