Top of page

Book/Printed Material Miao fa lian hua jing 妙法蓮華経

[ Volume 1 ]

More Resources

[ Volume 2 ]
[ Volume 3 ]
[ Volume 4 ]
[ Volume 5 ]
[ Volume 6 ]
[ Volume 7 ]

Show more resources (1)

[ Volume 8 ]

About this Item

Title

  • Miao fa lian hua jing

Other Title

  • 妙法蓮華経

Translated Title

  • Lotus Sutra

Summary

  • 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.

Names

  • Daitō, Genchi Contributor

Created / Published

  • [Place of publication not identified] : [Publisher not identified], [1300 to 1350]

Headings

  • -  Japan
  • -  1300 to 1350
  • -  Block printing
  • -  Buddhism
  • -  Correspondence
  • -  Letters
  • -  Mahāyāna Sūtras

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 8 scrolls ; 24.8 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Diet Library.
  • -  Content in Japanese and Chinese.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
  • -  Title revised per Asian Division.--cc28 2023-01-06

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667441

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Daitō, Genchi Contributor. Miao Fa Lian Hua Jing. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1350, 1300] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667441/.

APA citation style:

Daitō, G. C. (1300) Miao Fa Lian Hua Jing. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1350] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667441/.

MLA citation style:

Daitō, Genchi Contributor. Miao Fa Lian Hua Jing. [Place of publication not identified: Publisher not identified, to 1350, 1300] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667441/>.