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National Treasure Gallery: Jeweled Pagoda Mandala,Vols 1 and 4, Sovereign Kings of the Golden Light Sutra written in gold to form the pagoda

Illustrated Konkomyosaishoo kyo Sutra, No.1 (detail), Heian period, 12th century (National Treasure, Lent by Daichojuin, Iwate)

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
September 3, 2019 (Tue) - September 29, 2019 (Sun)

This is a transcription of a sutra, which was used during Buddhist ceremonies to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country. The characters in gold were written to form a pagoda. The creation of this type of mandala was based on a Buddhist belief that encouraged the integration of several good deeds, which would lead to desirable outcomes, into one. Those good deeds included transcribing sutras and constructing Buddhist temples, pagodas, and statues, as well as decorating them in a dignified yet magnificent manner.

Major Work(s) on Exhibit 2 results

	Designation	Name		Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance	Period	Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number	CMT
Highlight	National Treasure	Jeweled Pagoda Mandala, Vol. 1 [Sovereign Kings of the Golden Light Sutra] written in gold to form the pagoda			Heian period, 12th century	Lent by Daichojuin, Iwate
Highlight	National Treasure	Jeweled Pagoda Mandala, Vol. 4 [Sovereign Kings of the Golden Light Sutra] written in gold to form the pagoda			Heian period, 12th century	Lent by Ochojuin, Iwate

Exhibitions