National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

　This set is an example of the decorative “Lotus Sutra” manuscripts in the Heian period (794-1185). It is unique in of the fact that the color of paper changed by volume. This sutra has survived complete in eight volumes. As for the color of the paper, the paper of the first volume is pale blue, that of the third volume is pale green, that of the seventh volume is pale purple, and that of the eighth volume is pale brown, for example. The combination of such subtle colors represents the sophisticated sense of beauty of the aristocrats of the Dynasty. Pieces of gold and silver leaf are scattered all over the paper and rule marks are drawn with gold paint (kindei).
　At the end of the manuscript of each volume, there is a colophon stating that it was contributed to the sub-temple of Daisenji Temple, Daisen Gongen Saimyo-in, which indicates the fact that this set was handed down to this temple of Hoki Province (present-day Shimane Prefecture).