This lavishly produced copy of the Lotus Sutra is believed to date to the Heian period (794–1185). The elegant style of its calligraphy is part of the basis for its dating. The sutra copy’s paper is dyed purple so dark as to appear black, and the margins are lined in silver. Gold paint has been used to write out each character. The sutra was discovered within a statue of Yakushi Nyorai (Skt. Bhaiṣajyaguru) produced in Kyōhō 2 (1717) at Tōmyōji Temple in Yata, Yamato Koriyama.
Object label
Lotus Sutra (Sk. Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra) Vol.2-3
Handscrolls, gold dust on purple paper
Heian period 9th century
- H025811
- H025811
- 2014/07/03
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| Accession Number | 1019-0 |
|---|---|
| Category | Writings |
| Provenance | Formerly kept in Tōmyō-ji temple, Nara |
| Bibliography | Special Exhibition of Ancient Sutras from the Heian Period : Encountering the Legendary Kunōji Sutras. Nara National Museum, 2015, 172p. (Japanese) Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Nara National Museum: Writings. Nara National Museum, 1990, 136p. (Japanese) |
Related Objects
| Accession Number | Image | Object Name/Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1019-1 |
|
Lotus Sutra (Sk. Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra) Vol.2 |
| 1019-2 |
|
Lotus Sutra (Sk. Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra) Vol.3 |
| Accession Number | 1019-1 |
|---|---|
| Image |
|
| Object Name/Title | Lotus Sutra (Sk. Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra) Vol.2 |
| Accession Number | 1019-2 |
|---|---|
| Image |
|
| Object Name/Title | Lotus Sutra (Sk. Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra) Vol.3 |