East Asia Digital Library

Link to Source : 본초강목 52권 부도 2권 , Compendium of Materia Medica Vol. 52권 Appendix Vol.2

Lotus Sutra

Titledcterms:title: 妙法蓮華經8卷

URI: eadl:DM-NDL000007610853

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Abstract

The practice of printing Buddhist scriptures on the reverse of letters from the deceased to pray for the repose of his or her soul became common from the end of the Heian period (late 12th century) onward. The scrolls shown here contain the text of a Buddhist sutra called Myōhō renge-kyō (Lotus sutra). They are printed on the reverse of letters sent from Daitō Genchi, the second abbot of Kakuon-ji Temple in Kamakura. It is believed that Hōjō Sadatoki’s wife, to whom the letters are addressed, and some others commissioned these printings. Hōjō Sadatoki was a regent of the Kamakura shogunate. The date of creation is unknown, but it is thought to be around the end of the Kamakura period (early 14th century). The cover, inside cover, and body are gilded with gold or silver leaf and randomly sprinkled with beautiful gold powder. The back of the paper is decorated with a cloud-form design. The work is a significant example of finely decorative sutras, adorned with hexagonal crystals on the scroll head.(en)

鎌倉の覚園寺第二世大灯源智律師の消息(手紙)の裏に、宛名の「大の御かた（北条貞時室）」等が妙法蓮華経を刷った消息経。制作年代は明確ではないが、覚園寺にある源智の供養塔に正慶元年(1332)の造立銘があること、版式などから鎌倉時代末頃と推定される。表紙と見返しおよび本文は、金銀切箔、野毛、砂子散らし。紙背には雲形模様の装飾が施される。軸頭に六角水晶を用いた美しい装飾経の遺品。また、紙背の消息124通は鎌倉時代の貴重な資料となっている。