National Treasure Gallery: List of Ritual Objects for Esoteric Buddhism Brought from China by Priest Saicho
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List of Ritual Objects for Esoteric Buddhism Brought from China by Priest Saicho, By Saicho, Heian period, dated 811 (National Treasure, Lent by Enryakuji, Shiga)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
April 9, 2019 (Tue) - May 12, 2019 (Sun)On display is one of the few surviving writings by Saicho (767–822), an accomplished Buddhist monk. Saicho made the difficult journey to China to study the Tiantai school—the latest school of Buddhist thought and practice at the time. After his return to Japan, he established this school at a temple complex on Mount Hiei near Kyoto.
This writing, which remains as a fragment, originally listed 66 ritual implements and sacred texts that Saicho brought back from China and placed in two buildings on Mount Hiei. With red seals stamped over the text to prevent it from being altered, this fragment is direct evidence of Saicho’s efforts to establish the latest Buddhist teachings in his home country.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | List of Ritual Objects for Esoteric Buddhism Brought from China by Priest Saicho | By Saicho (767-822) | Heian period, dated 811 (Konin 2) | Lent by Enryakuji, Shiga |