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

This scroll depicts the story of the journey of Zenzai-dōji (Skt: Sudhana) in Kegongyō (Skt: Sk: Avatamsaka-sutra, Flower Garland Sutra). It is a beautiful story about Zenzai, a child who is said to have a mind as pure as empty space. On the instruction of Monju Bosatsu (Skt: Manjushrī, the great-wisdom Bodhisattva), he visits fifty-five zenchishiki-s (Skt: kalyana-mitra, lit. spiritual friends, the virtuous people who have the power to lead others) in turn, and attains the enlightenment of Bodhisattva in the end. It is a theme made into pieces of art both on the continent and in Japan since early times. This piece is a copy of the five scenes from Tōdai-ji-bon (Tōdai Temple version, separated and owned by Tōdai-ji and some other institutions today. The part owned by Tōdai-ji is designated National Treasure, all the other parts are Important Cultural Property) produced around the middle of the Kamakura period. Tōdai-ji-bon was painted in the traditional Japanese style sometime between the Heian period and the early Kamakura period. It reflects deep spirituality with soft, effortless brush strokes and clear colors while remaining simple. This piece, if not as good as the original, still shows the resonance of it. The name and rank of each zenchishiki and poetry as praise with the content of the scene as its theme are handwritten on each scene. The praises used were written by Youketsu, who was a literati in the northern Song period and on close terms with the prominent Sotouba.