Buddhist Scriptures Buried in Sutra Mounds: Clay Tablets, Stones, and Bronze Plates with Sutra Inscriptions
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Bronze Tablet with Sutra Inscriptions
Found at Chōanji Temple, Ōita, Heian period, 1141 (Important Art Object)Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
September 20, 2023 (Wed) - March 10, 2024 (Sun)Sutra mounds were where Buddhist scriptures were buried in the hope of preserving them for a long time. While most of these scriptures were transcribed on paper and placed inside sutra cases before being buried, others took the form of clay tablets, metal plates, or stone (steatite), all of which would survive longer underground. For Buddhist scriptures made on these hard materials, texts could be inscribed directly onto more than one surface, even on the back and sides of the materials.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Tablet with Sutra Text (Fragment) | Found on Tōfukuji Temple grounds, Kyoto | Heian period, 12th century | B-2178-1 | |||
| Highlight | Important Art Object | Tablet with Sutra Text | Found at the Chōanji Temple, Ōita | Heian period, 1141 | E-19821 |