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

　`Fuku Sanzo Hyoseishu' was compiled by Ensho (719–800), a disciple of Fuku (705–774) who was a priest in the Tang period, at the end of the 8th century and comprises six volumes. It contains 133 documents in chronological order, centering on hyo (documents presented from retainers to the Emperor) that Fuku presented to the Emperor, and sei, imperial orders made in response to Fuku's hyo, and including saimon (a statement dedicated to a god at a festival), epitaphs, and others. They can be broadly divided into following four groups: (1) those related to imperial rituals and politics; (2) those related to the translation of sutras; (3) those on the repairs of temples, creation of Buddha images, and Buddhist services, and (4) those related to the ranks of priests and other personnel affairs. In the Kukai Shorai Mokuroku (lists of what Kukai brought back into Japan from the Tang Dynasty), this `Fuku Sanzo Hyoseishu' is listed as "大唐大興善 寺大弁正大広智三蔵表答碑六巻." Its main transcriptions include the one possessed by Tokyo National Museum, the one originally possessed by Ishiyamadera Temple, the one originally possessed by Todaiji Tonanin (the early Heian period), the one possessed by Toji Kanchiin (the mid-Heian period), and the one possessed by Kozanji (insei period: the period ruled by retired Emperors).
　This first volume is of a scroll type and uses thin sumi-ruled kozo paper (paper made of paper mulberry). It bears a seal at the bottom of the beginning, which says "Ishiyamadera," showing that this was originally possessed by Ishiyamadera Temple. This scroll constitutes not only the first class historical material for the study of achievements of Fuku, the sixth founder of the Shingon sect, and his episodes by his disciples, including Keika, but also a fundamental material in understanding Shingon esoteric Buddhism centering Fuku in the Tang period. It was designated an important cultural property on June 18, 1957.