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

Bujun Shiban (1177 to 1249) was a successor to Hoan Sosen of Reiinji Temple. After serving as the chief priest of various temples, he assumed the chief priesthood at Koshomanjuzenji Temple of Kinzan, one of the five famous temples in China and was granted the title of Bukkanzenji from Emperor Riso of the Southern Song Dynasty. He copied each of the four characters of "Sha-ka-ho-den" written on a tablet, which each Zen temple hangs out, separately on four pieces of paper and then joined them together. This was originally one of the sets Bujun Shiban sent to Shoikkokushi at Jotenji Temple. Since it was placed in Fumonin when it was transferred to Tofukuji Temple, it bears the seal of "Fumon-in." Later, when Tofukuji Temple was repaired, the calligraphy works of Bujun left the temple to private citizens and this one is believed to be one of them. It was previously owned by Ryuzaburo Umehara.