National Treasure Gallery: Kengu Kyo (Buddhist Scripture)Known as "Ojomu"
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Kengu Kyo (Buddhist Scripture), Known as "Ojomu" (detail), Attributed to Emperor Shomu (701-756), Nara period, 8th century (National Treasure)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
January 30, 2018 (Tue) - March 11, 2018 (Sun)The Kengu kyo is a sutra of allegories about the wise and the foolish, which was translated into Chinese by Huijie of the Northern Wei dynasty (386–535) and others. The scroll on exhibit contains transcriptions – presumably by Emperor Shomu (r. 724–749), though without conclusive evidence – of volumes from four different chapters of the sutra. For its association with Emperor Shomu and the magnificent air it possesses, this scroll is known as “Ojomu,” which can be interpreted as “Grand Emperor Shomu,” or “transcription by Emperor Shomu in large characters.”
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | Kengu kyo, SutraKnown as "Ojomu" | Attributed to Emperor Shomu | Nara period, 8th century | B-2402 |