Sutra on the Wise and Foolish (Called "Ōjōmu")
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Sutra on the Wise and Foolish (Called "Ōjōmu") (detail), Attributed to Emperor Shōmu, Nara period, 8th century (National Treasure)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
April 9, 2024 (Tue) - May 12, 2024 (Sun)Sutra on the Wise and Foolish is a collection of Buddhist stories about wise and foolish people. The scroll on display here is a partial copy of the sutra dating to the 8th century.
For centuries, people believed this copy had been written by Emperor Shōmu (701–756), a devout supporter of Buddhism. The copy was named Ōjōmu (Great Shōmu) in honor of the emperor and came to be regarded as an exceptional work of calligraphy. Originally consisting of sixteen or seventeen scrolls, it was stored at Tōdaiji, a historic Buddhist temple in Nara.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | "Sutra on the Wise and Foolish" (Called "Ōjōmu") | Attributed to Emperor Shōmu | Nara period, 8th century | B-2402 |