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

　　This is a dedicated text written by Ishikawa no Toshitari (688–762), who was a head bureaucrat of Izumo Province (Izumo no kami) in Tempyo 9 (737). A long colophon in 19 lines is at the end of this manuscript, telling the reason why it was copied. According to that, it can be found that he drew a set of icons of Yakushi (Skt. Bhaiṣajyaguru), attendants Kannon Kannon (Skt. Avalokiteśvara) and both of Nikko (Skt. Sūrya-prabha) and Gakko (Skt. Candra-prabha), together with the copy of this sutra, praying for the repose of the soul of his deceased son Jiro.
　　In Tempyo 9 (737), smallpox raged fiercely, and many people died of smallpox including the fourth child of Fujiwara no Fuhito. Jiro may have been one of them.
　　Kanjo zuigan ojo kyo is a sutra in the 11th volume of the Consecration Sutra that is comprised of 12 volumes, in which Shakamuni (Skt. Śākyamuni) explains the state of the Pure Lands in ten directions and the destiny of his peaceful death for answering the bodhisattva Fuko’s question just before Shakamuni would enter Nirvāṇa (nehan).
　　In addition to this manuscript, the currently preserved copies of sutras for prayers written by Ishikawa no Toshitari are Miroku Josho kyo (Important cultural property; held by Kosanji Temple in Kyoto Prefecture), which he transcribed in Tempyo 10 (738) for his own peace and the 232nd volume of Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Important cultural property; held by an individual), which is comprised of 600 volumes and was copied for a memorial service for his parents and enshrined in Jodoji Temple (Yamadadera Temple) in Tempyo 11 (739).