Title: One Million Small Wooden Pagodas and Dharani Prayers
Description
- Hyakumanto Darani (The one million pagodas and Dharani prayers) is the oldest traceable publication in the world whose production date is clearly identified. In 764, the Empress Shōtoku (718-770) ordered the donation of Hyakumanto Darani, each containing a small scroll printed with four Buddhist Dharani sutras, to ten major temples. The National Diet Library holds several of the scrolls that were donated to the Hōryūji Temple in Nara prefecture in western Japan. These three-tiered pagodas were painted with white clay. It is unclear whether the printing blocks were of wood or metal.
Date Created
- 770
Language
Title in Original Language
- Hyakumanto Darani
Place
Time
Topic
Additional Subjects
Type of Item
Physical Description
- 3 pages; 5.7 × 46.5 centimeters; 5.5 × 39.7 centimeters; 5.5 × 55 centimeters
Institution
External Resource
Last Updated: May 7, 2009
