Lotus Sutra Scroll (1 results)

Fine frontispiece at beginning & "afterpiece" scene at end. Scroll (210 x 9560 mm.), written in gold ink, with embellishments in gold & silver, on indigo-dyed paper, verso of scroll with various seasonal nature scenes finely painted in gold. [Japan]: at end (in trans.): "copied on 28 April 1782 by ?? ["Gisen"]." This devotional scroll, its brilliant gold and silver colors gleaning against from dark indigo paper, is a soshokuky? (lavishly produced sutra manuscript). The paper was repeatedly soaked in a dark blue dye, creating a depth of color suggestive of precious lapis lazuli. The paintings are of the highest quality, and the text has been copied in gold ink with borders decorated in both gold and silver pigments. The use of gold paint to write the texts of the sutra was considered an act of reverence toward the Buddha's teachings and can also be seen as a representation of the shining bright body of the Buddha himself. Our beautiful scroll contains a selection of texts known as the Gokit? ky? Lotus Sutra taken from the much larger Lotus Sutra, the most influential scripture of Mahayana Buddhism. Highly regarded in a number of Asian countries, including China, Korea, and Japan, where it has been traditionally practiced, the Gokit? ky? Lotus Sutra was produced by the Kempon Hokke sh? ????? branch of Nichiren Buddhism, which was based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese monk Nichiren ?? (1222-82). The brushwork throughout this scroll is of a very high and refined level. On the inside of the endpaper is a magnificent scene in dark green and rich gold and silver depicting a dreamy landscape and sea with a crane and turtle, symbolizing longevity. The gold has been applied in many layers and using complex techniques. This is followed by a painting, very rare in sutras, of 30 portraits of gods and Buddhist practitioners, framed on each side by protective gods and a pair of lions. All are finely depicted in gold and all with red lips, sitting in front of bamboo screens. Throughout the scroll, including the above scene, the text is framed above and below by decorative and varied patterns in rich gold and some silver. A full line of text contains 14-16 characters. The text is finely written throughout in a calligraphic hand in gold. At the beginning, our handsome scroll has fine silk endpapers on the outer side, employing gold thread, depicting four of the Bagua (the Eight Trigrams), representing the fundamental principles of reality and other motifs. At the end, we learn about the traditional transmission of this text, including ownership and scribes, whose first names are given in a four-column statement of when this scroll was copied and by whom. The first copy was made in 1537, using the source scroll owned by the chief of Echigo province. In 1657, it was copied again. And in 1714, it was copied, and ours is a copy of that scroll. We learn that the best way to produce such a scroll is to be "fast, sit still, be calm, and concentrate." Following this, we find a remarkable and long (167 x 490 mm.) scene, painted in blue, gold, and red, of various Buddhist divinities and devotees with a seated Buddha. A ray of light extends from Buddha's forehead and illumines the vast assembly, gathered to hear his teachings. The reverse or outer side of the scroll is equally finely painted with various seasonal nature scenes, framed at top and bottom with rich gold- and silver-speckled borders employing squares of cut gold and silver foil. The attached cord, used to tie the sutra together, consists of woven persimmon and gold threads, ending with three tassels with persimmon and gold threads. The cord and tassels are attached to the scroll with a finely decorated metal lotus flower clasp. The roller is made of clear crystal, its ends covered by metal caps with lotus flower and vine patterns. In fine and fresh condition. The scroll is preserved in a corded silk brocade wrapper within a fine lacquer box decorated with two family crests (the first with eight wisteria flowers framing a flower in the center; the second with a Konoe peony) in gold on the upper cover and attached tassels. There is some worming in the later part of the scroll, but it is not offensive.