Vol. 15. One scroll.
27.6 cm by 514 cm.
At the back of the scroll, near its opening ,are deciphered
some words to the effect that "8 omissions noted on first
reading by Kiyonari and 3 mossions noted on second reading
by Otomo." From the calligraphic style of these words this
sutra is identified with 775 A.D. Note that both the inscription and the roller are of the date identified.
(A b 2) KEGON-KYO
Written in silver on indigo-colored paper. A fragment.
108 cm long (mounted scroll). 23 cm by 55.5 cm.
This sutra is popularly known as "the burned sutra of
Nigatsu-do of Todaiji," for the reason that fire broke out
once in the Nigatsu-do edifice in which this sutra was kept.
This is undoubtedly the oldest specimen of the kind, that is,
the silver-written sutra of the Nara period (708-780).
(A b 3) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 383. One folded volume.
24.8 cm by 810.2 cm.
A product of the Nara period.
This grand sutra is a collection of sixteen sutras, consisting of 6000 volumes, and its ultimate purpose is to teach the
mystic lesson that "all is vanity under the sun," and to
free human minds from the burden of the various illusions
binding them to life. "Maha" signifies "great," while
"prajna" signifies "wisdom" and "paramita" "to overcome
the world of life and death and attain the goal of nirvana."
(A b 4) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 568. A fragment.
25.5 cm by 170 cm. Mounted: 189.3 cm long.
A passage at beginning missing.
At the end of the sutra there is a short composition which
may be roughly translated as follow:
"There is not a misfortune that cannot be extinguished,
nor yet a blessing that cannot be attained, through the virtue
of the golden words of Prajna (highest Buddhist wisdom).
Such is the sacred use of the doctrine of 'the great void.' It
is with reason that this sutra has been called the parent of all
the Buddhas, and the teacher of all the sages. In all sincerity,
therefore, I have done myself the honor of copying this book
of Maha Prajnaparamita Sutra of six hundred volumes that
the awakened ones of the three generations (past, present and
future) and the wise ones of the ten directions (the whole
world) may be enlightened for ever and that my prayer for
my own salvation here and hereafter may be infallibly
secured.
"This March 3rd of the 13th year of Jokan (871 A.D.).
By Abe Komizumaro, the Lord of Kozuke province."
Thus it may be noted that this sutra was copied in 871
A.D. In the Jikoji temple, Musashi province, are preserved
152 rolls of Maha-prajna-sutra, bearing similar postscripts,
and these have been registered as "national treasures."
(A b 5) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 390. One folded volume.
24.9 cm by 954.5 cm. Mounted: 984 cm long.
A product of early Heian period (9th century).
The first twenty-five lines have been superadded at a
later period.
(A b 6) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 385. One folded volume.
35.2 cm by 871.5 cm. Mounted: 883 cm long.
Probably a product of early Heian period (9th century).
(A b 7) KONPONSETSU ISSAIUBU BINAYA KYO
Vol. 45. A passage at beginning missing. One scroll.
27 cm by 866 cm. Mounted: 892.5 cm long.
Probably a product of early Heian period (9th century).
(A b 8) BUSSETSU KONGOCHOYUGACHU RYAKUSHUTSU NENJU KYO
Vol. 1. One scroll.
28 cm by 682 cm. Mounted: 706 cm.
Thns sutra contains some annotations and punctuations in
red (cinnabar) made probably in the course of proof-reading.
Believed to be a product of early Heian period (9th century).
(A b 9) KONGOCHOYUGACHU RYAKUSHUTSU NENJU KYO
Vol. 1. One scroll.
27 cm by 1092 cm. Mounted: 118.5 cm long.
This copied sutra contains a postscript stating particulars
as to when, where and why it was copied; from which it is
clear that the transcription was made in a sanctum of Mount
Koya, Kii province, in 1108 A.D., to which some punctuations
were added at a later period.
(A b 10) BUSSETSU B0SATSU ZO KYO
First volume. The beginning missing. One scroll.
27.6 cm by 822.5 cm. Mounted: 849 cm long.
Probably a product of early Heian period (9th century).
(A b 11) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 440. One scroll.
27 cm 857.5 cm. Mounted: 883.5 cm long.
It has a postscript which may be roughly translated as
follows:
"The prayer-master, Shogen, priest of Kofukuji, first
copied the one whole book. From Shogen's hands it passed
to Genken, and from Genken to Ensei. In the meantime over
two hundred years had passed, and the book became wormeaten and otherwise damaged. Therefore Ensei has now had
it properly repaired, and held a mass in honor of the event.
So, from now on, for evermore, shall this book be repeatedly
read by all, and thus the prayer of the original prayer-master
shall be fulfilled and his benefaction appreciated by all.
November 23rd in the 2nd year of Jisho (1178)."
It is clear from above that the priest Gensho of the
Kofukuji, Nara, was the Ganshu (literally, prayer-master, or
one who makes religious vows or on whose behalf such vows
are made) in the transcription of this sutra. Later in 1178
A.D. the priest Ensei who had inherited this scroll, repaired
the worm-eaten and otherwise damaged portions of it. The
text has also been annotated in red.
(A b 12) BOSATSU KENJITSU ZANMAI KYO
Vol. 9. The beginning missing. One scroll.
28.2 cm. by 827.2 cm.
At the end of the sutra may be seen two seal marks in
red, each containing the three characters, signifying "Kozan-ji," from which it may be inferred that it was preserved
in the Kozan-ji temple, Yamashiro province. The extra was
evidently copied, therefore, in Fujiwara period (10th century).
(A b 13) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 147. One scroll in an old box.
A passage at end missing.
26.2 cm by 441 cm. Mounted: 509 cm long.
The "performed paper" is embellished with golden lines.
The calligraphic style had by this time survived the orthodox
Chinese fashion, and acquired something of the native
Japanese manner, known as "early-period" style. It is a
typical example of pure Japanese calligraphy of Fujiwara
period (10th century).
(A b 14) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 1. One folded volume.
23.2 cm by 812 cm. Mounted: 827.5 cm long.
A product of Fujiwara period (10th century). The
beginning of this sutra for scores of lines has been superadded at a later period.
(A b 15) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 142. One folded volume.
25.5 cm by 648 cm. Mounted: 674.9 cm long.
A copied sutra of Fujiwara period (10th century).
(A b 16) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 362. One folded volume.
25.7 cm by 877.5 cm. Mounted: 885 cm long.
This sutra has several postscripts, and also some notes
in red. The first postscript indicates that the priest Ganku
had copied 600 rolls of the sutra on behalf of the priest
Shakuso, who donated the same to the Kawai-sha of Kamo,
Kyoto in 1159 A.D. Another postscript adds that the priest
Gen-yo in 1174 punctuated the sutra according to the model
in the sutra of the Zuishin-in, Yamashiro province.
(A b 17) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 600. One folded volume.
24.6 cm by 813.5 cm. Mounted: 823.5 cm long.
An example of sutra copied on yellow paper, between
silver lines, a product of later Fujiwara period (11th century).
(A b 18) DAIJO HQNSHOSHINJIKAN KYO
Vol. 6. One scroll.
263 cm by 711 cm. Mounted; 734 cm long.
Half a dozen characters may be seen at the end as a postscript. At the back of the paper is the mark of a seal in
black. It is probably a copy made in Heike period (12th
century). The jiku (roller) is of the same period.
(A b 19) DAIHOJAKU KYO
Vol. 87. The beginning missing. One scroll.
27.5 cm by 473.5 cm. Mounted: 496.5 cm long.
This sutra was formerly preserved in the Buddhist temple,
Jingoji, Yamashiro province, and probably a product of early
Heian period (9th century).
(A b 20) MAHA-.PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 386. One folded volume.
24.9 cm by 785.5 cm. Mounted: 792.5 cm long.
This sutra has a brief inscription at the head of the
text, and two short postscripts; from which the following
facts may be deduced. The sutra in question was once preserved in the temple, Kasuga-sha, at Yamabe-gun, Yamato
province. It was a product of some time between the later
Fujiwara (11th century) and Heike period (12th century),
and the punctuation was made evidently in 1229 A.D. Twice,
that is, in 1368 and 1716, it was corrected and amplified.
(A b 21) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 180.
One folded volume (Pasted on one side).
At the end of the sutra are three postscripts, proving
that this sutra was part of the 600 volumes of the great sutra
which the priest Kenshin dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai (Sanskrit, Bhaishjyaguru), or "the Healing Buddha" of the
Amadera-mido in 1242.
(A b 22) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 161. One folded volume (Pasted on one side).
25.8 cm by 25.5 cm, as the folder is spread open on its back.
It has a postscript mentioning the name of the "prayer
master," "Norinobu," of "Amadera-mido, Yakushi-nyorai,"
and the date, "September 3, 1242."
(A b 23) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 408. One folded volume (Pasted on one side).
It has a postscript dated, "September 4, 1242."
(A b 24) HOKE KYO
Written in gold on indigo-color paper.
A fragment. One scroll.
35.5 cm by 24.8 cm. Mounted: 81 cm long.
This is probably a product of Heike period (12th century).
(A b 25) HOKE KYO
Written in gold on indigo-color paper. A fragment. One
scroll.
24.5 cm by 25.5 cm. Mounted: 74 cm long.
Probably a product of Heike period (12th century).
(A b 26) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol 316. The beginning missing. One scroll.
25.6 cm by 787 cm. Mounted: 815 cm long.
It has a brief postscript to the effect that "first reading
over," from the calligraphic style of which it may be inferred
that it was a product of Kamakura period (12th-13th century).
(A b 27) KOKERA SUTRA
12 pieces.
Each being 1.5 cm by 29.7 cm.
The Kokera Kyo, or Kokera-sutra, so-called, is a small
oblong card, bearing the emblems of the five elements, viz.,
earth, water, fire, wind, sky, on both sides of which is written
the Hoke Kyo. Judging from their calligraphic style, etc.,
it is probable that they are the products of early Kamakura
period (12th century). The offering of Kokera Kyo was
frequently made, together with the election of stupa, to pray
for the redemption of the lamented dead. The other name of
Kokera Kyo was Sasa-stupa, which means diminutive stupa.
The word Kokera was derived from the kokera, or shingles
with which the roof is thatched, because it is a rectangular
piece of wood looking like a shingle.
(A b 28) BUSSETSU BUTSUBO SHUSSHOSANBOZO HANNYA HARAMITTA KYO
Vol. 23. One folded volume.
27.9 cm by 620.5 cm. Mounted: 630.5 cm long.
It has a postscript, written by the same hand by which
the text is written.
It has another postscript in the form of elegant verse.
From these writings it is clear that this was part of the
Issai Kyo which the Shogun Takauji caused to be written in
1354 on the occasion of a great mass held for the soul of
Godaigo Tenno and also for the souls of both his friends and
foes perished in the war since the era of Genki (1331). It
was given to the Toji-in, and was later transferred to the
Onjo-ji, Omi province. The two characters for Takauji were
the sign manual of Takauji himself.
(A b 29) MAHA-PRAJNAPARAMITA-SUTRA
Vol. 578. One folded volume. Mounted: 23.3 cm by 836 cm.
Probably a copy of early Tokugawa period (17th century).
