Each character of the Lotus Sutra (Skt. Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra; Ch. Fahua jing; J. Hoke kyō) is written in gold and enshrined in its own jeweled pagoda. Shinzei Nyūdō (dates unknown) had this created with a prayer to be reborn in the Pure Land in 1163 (Chōkan 1). The frontispiece features a painting expressing the sutra’s teachings in visual form that is copied from a woodblock-printed edition of the Lotus Sutra brought to Japan from Song-dynasty China.
SAIKI RyokoEnglish by Mary Lewine
Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, p.347, no.56.
Important Cultural Property
Hoke-kyō (Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra), with each character enthroned inside a stupa, Vol.3; 5
Handscroll, gold dust on deep-blue paper
Heian period 12th century
Chōkan 1 1163
- H023982
- H023982
- 2014/01/31
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| Accession Number | 1193-0 |
|---|---|
| Category | Writings |
| Provenance | Formerly kept in Anrakuju-in temple, Kyoto |
| Bibliography | Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, 354p. Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Nara National Museum: Supplement. Nara National Museum, 1999, 108p. (Japanese) Masterpieces from the Collection of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 1997, 350p. (Japanese) |
Related Objects
| Accession Number | Image | Object Name/Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1193-1 |
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Hoke-kyō (Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra), with each character enthroned inside a stupa, Vol.3 |
| 1193-2 |
|
Hoke-kyō (Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra), with each character enthroned inside a stupa, Vol.5 |
| Accession Number | 1193-1 |
|---|---|
| Image |
|
| Object Name/Title | Hoke-kyō (Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra), with each character enthroned inside a stupa, Vol.3 |
| Accession Number | 1193-2 |
|---|---|
| Image |
|
| Object Name/Title | Hoke-kyō (Saddharma-puṇḍarīka sūtra), with each character enthroned inside a stupa, Vol.5 |