Buddhist Scriptures Buried in Sutra Mounds: Clay Tablets, Stones, and Bronze Plates with Sutra Inscriptions
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Tablet with Sutra Text
Reportedly found at Chōanji Temple, Ōita, Heian period, 1141 (Important Art Object)Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
April 8, 2026 (Wed) - September 13, 2026 (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 | Tablets with Sutra Texts | Found at the Dainichiji Sutra Mound, Tottori | Heian period, 1071 | J-36659 | |||
| Highlight | Important Art Object | Tablet with Sutra Text | Reportedly found at Chōanji Temple, Ōita | Heian period, 1141 | E-19821 |