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

Eight volumes of the Lotus Sutra (Hokekyo) are copied on yellow hemp paper ruled in pale black ink in the traditional form of seventeen characters per line. The letters are rather thick, written with bold strokes. All the volumes were copied by one person. Compared with the copies of sutras in the Nara period, which were written orderly and properly, this copy is written with a rather free touch and the rule marks are also rather loose. The cover for which light blue paper is used and the title piece made of leather are likely original.
The Gohomotsu-zue (Illustration of Imperial Treasures), which offers information about the exhibition of treasures owned by temples and held in other places (Dekaicho) in Tenpo 13, (1842) indicates that this copy was autographed by Emperor Yomei, but it is believed to have been copied in the early years of the Heian period (794-1185) judging from the style of calligraphy.