"The Parable of the Burning House" Chapter of the Lotus Sutra (From Kunōji Temple)
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"The Parable of the Burning House" Chapter of the Lotus Sutra (From Kunōji Temple) (detail), Heian period, 12th century (National Treasure, Lent by Tesshūzenji Temple, Shizuoka)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
August 29, 2023 (Tue) - October 1, 2023 (Sun)The Lotus Sutra is an influential Buddhist text, with many believing that it contains the Buddha’s ultimate teachings. About 900 years ago, the retired emperor Toba, his wife, and other prominent individuals worked together to create a copy of the Lotus Sutra. Each person copied one chapter while praying for rebirth in a Buddhist paradise known as the Pure Land.
The scroll on display contains "The Parable of the Burning House," in which the Buddha compares a burning house to our world, which is full of suffering and delusion. This chapter was copied by the court calligrapher Fujiwara no Sadanobu (1088– after 1154) onto paper decorated with gold and silver. This lavish decoration was meant to express the sincerity of everyone’s desire for rebirth in the Pure Land.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | "The Parable of the Burning House" Chapter of the "Lotus Sutra" (From Kunōji Temple) | Heian period, 12th century | Lent by Tesshūzenji Temple, Shizuoka |