National Treasure Gallery: The Sovereign Kings Sutra Written to Form a Pagoda (First Image)
-
The Sovereign Kings Sutra Written to Form a Pagoda (First Image)(detail)
Heian period, 12th century (National Treasure, Lent by Daichōjuin Temple, Iwate)Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 12
July 22, 2026 (Wed) - August 23, 2026 (Sun)The works on display contain chapters from a sacred Buddhist text called the Sovereign Kings Sutra. Highly influential in Japan, this text promises that powerful Buddhist deities will protect any country whose ruler upholds the Buddha’s teachings.
A master calligrapher wrote the chapters in tiny gold characters. The characters form the shapes of two Buddhist pagodas, towers built to enshrine the Buddha’s cremated remains. Scenes from the Sovereign Kings Sutra surround each tower.Therefore, these works reflect the Buddhist belief that certain virtuous acts — such as copying sacred texts, explaining them through images, and building pagodas — will bring blessings in this life and the next.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | The Sovereign Kings Sutra Written to Form a Pagoda (First Image) | Heian period, 12th century | Lent by Daichōjuin Temple, Iwate |