Object

Segment of Issaikyo Sutra Manuscript Made at the Votive Wish of Empress Shotoku

Keio Object Hub
Date
制作年 AD8
Title
ダイホウドウダイジッキョウマキダイハチダンカン(ショウトクテンノウチョクガンイッサイキョウ)
Materials, techniques and shape
紙本墨画
Collections
Depository
Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko) Campus Mita
Ref. number
AW-CEN-000219-0001
License
CC BY Images license
Creditline

慶應義塾(センチュリー赤尾コレクション)

URL
Classification
Art
AI Tagging
Handwriting Font Book Paper Paper product

Empress Shotoku (718-770) was the second princess of Emperor Shomu (701-756). Originally, she was enthroned in 749 as Empress Koken, but after abdication of the throne to Emperor Junjin, she became known as Retired Empress Koken. In 764, Fujiwara-no-Nakamaro (706-764), alias Emino Oshikatsu, led a rebellion against the crown but was killed in battle. As Emperor Junjin was married to Nakamaro’s daughter, he was suspected of involvement in the rebellion, and was exiled to Awaji Island. Thereupon, the Retired Empress was called upon to reign again, this time, as Empress Shotoku. The exhibited sutra segment is a volume from the copies of an Issaikyo (a compendium of all Buddhist scriptures) produced in 768 for a service held in memory of the late Emperor Junjin (who died in 765, at age 33). The sutra copying task was commissioned in August 767, and continued into around 780, even after Empress Shotoku’s death. The large, bold and confident characters show the strong influence of the Large Shomu Sutra, or O-Jomu, (of the Kengukyo, or the Sutra of the Wise and Foolish, attributed to Emperor Shomu). This is another sutra representative of the grandiose transcribing endeavors of the Nara Period. The sutra is written on yellow Amur cork-dyed paper, as yellow was a noble color, while the pigment also repelled insects that might infest the paper.

Rights

Ref. number
AW-CEN-000219-0001
License
CC BY
Creditline

慶應義塾(センチュリー赤尾コレクション)

Images
license

Depository and ID

Depository
Institute of Oriental Classics (Shido Bunko)
Campus Mita
URL
Classification
Art

Components

OPEN DATADESIGN

Details

Identifiers

Title (EN)
Segment of Issaikyo Sutra Manuscript Made at the Votive Wish of Empress Shotoku

Identifiers

Title (EN)
Segment of Issaikyo Sutra Manuscript Made at the Votive Wish of Empress Shotoku