JBAE - Japanese Buddhist Art in European Collections

ISO	CHE	Object type	Calligraphy	Museum	Fondation Martin Bodmer / Foundation Martin Bodmer
Object title	Daihannya-haramitta-kyō kann 540 (Maha-prajñāpāramitā Sutra Chapter 540)	Ownership current status	Foundation Martin Bodmer
Copyright owner	All data courtesy of the museum/owner. Copyright is held by the owner as stated above.
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Artist, kiln
Period
Date
Origin
School, style
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Collection registration number
Collection registration number 2
Collection registration number 3
Size height (mm)	240
Size length (mm)	8840
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Contributing researcher
Translator

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05	04	03	02	01

10	09	08	07	06

15	14	13	12	11

20	19	18	17	16

25	24	23	22	21

Photographer	Naomi Wenger

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Description

The handscroll of Daihannya-haramitta-kyō, the Sutra of Great Wisdom, chapter five hundred and forty, consists of a simple sheet of paper without mounting. The complete version of the sutra encompasses six-hundred chapters. It was introduced to China from India by the monk, scholar and translator Xuanzang, who translated the sutra into Chinese in the 7th century before it was imported into Japan. The sutra is written in black ink on high-quality paper, very likely kōzo-shi, which is made using the fibre of Broussonetia papyrifera or paper mulberry tree, especially treasured and used for important documents during the early periods of Japanese history such as the Nara and Heian periods. There is a circular red seal placed over the top of the first four lines of the text, stating “Yakushi-ji-in” (seal of the temple Yakushi-ji). The sutra was written in Japan within the context of the religious rites of reproducing holy scripture to benefit the karma.

Signature, seal

red seal: Yakushi ji. 印「薬師寺」

Material and technique

ink on paper, red seal

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Date of entry into collection
Acquisition backgroundpurchase : Breitlin & Ver. Brügge
Ownership, current statusFoundation Martin Bodmer

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Reference material
Reference pictures
Past exhibitions
Exhibition catalogue
Catalogue pictures
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Japanese Buddhist Art in European Collections

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