Frontispiece of illuminated Daihannya-kyo.

Sutra of Accumulated Treasures (Daihōshaku-kyō): Chapter 45, second half 12th century

expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

The painted gold and silver frontispiece of this elegant sutra illustrates the Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas delivering a sermon in a simplified landscape setting. Decorated scrolls of this type were commissioned in great numbers as a means of accruing religious merit. Based on stylistic similarities, this scroll may have been one of 5,400 commissioned by the retired emperor Toba in the mid-twelfth century. A number of these scrolls remain at Jingoji temple north of Kyoto. The text, beautifully written in standard block script, describes the ways bodhisattvas should conduct themselves in order to achieve enlightenment.

Details
Title
Sutra of Accumulated Treasures (Daihōshaku-kyō): Chapter 45
Role
Artist
Dimension
10 in. (25.4 cm)
Accession Number
71.59.2
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

Frontispiece of illuminated Daihannya-kyo.