Heian period (12th century)
Important Art Object
Donated by the Homma family
With its alternating golden and silver lettering, this aizome-dyed indigo paper transcribes a section related to Manjushri from the Vajrasekhara Sutra, an important and sacred tome of esoteric Buddhism. Within esoteric Buddhism, the combined wisdom of the five great Nyorai, being Dainichi, Ashuku, Hōshō, and Fukujōju, can be viewed as showing that:
1. Their wisdom shall be such as to substantiate the enlightenment of the whole world.
2. Their wisdom shall reflect totality.
3. Their wisdom shall equally comprise of the totality.
4. Their wisdom shall observe all equally.
5. Their wisdom shall accomplish all things.
In the piece’s end-paper, the world of the Buddhas is shown in splendid detail, also serving as an important painted document from the Heian period.
This piece shares major defining characteristics with the Konshi Kingin Kōsho Issaikyō (Chūson-ji Sutra), a document held in Chūson-ji Temple by Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the first Oshū Fujiwara ruler of the lands of Oshū during the Heian period.