『過去現在絵因果経』 断簡 (松永本)|The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki)

The illustrated sutra 『過去現在絵因果経』, known as the Kako genzai inga kyō emaki, is a 1283 hanging scroll painted in ink and color on paper. The work, classified as religious painting, was produced in Japan by an anonymous artist and depicts a Buddhist scene featuring a cart, a man, and oxen. It is presently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which lists the piece as part of its collection and records its inception in 1283.

The scroll’s provenance traces from its creation in 13th‑century Japan to its acquisition by the museum, where it remains on display.

The illustrated handscroll 『過去現在絵因果経』断簡 (松永本), dated 1283, is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work is classified as a religious painting within the museum's Asian art department and is recorded under the genre of religious art, depicting Buddhist narrative scenes that include a cart, a man, and oxen. No specific accession or inventory number is listed in the available documentation, and no exhibition history for this piece is documented in the sources consulted.

This hanging scroll, titled The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma, is a painting executed with ink and color on paper. It depicts a narrative scene featuring a monk instructing a group of men. A wooden cart, drawn by two oxen, is also visible within the composition. The artwork serves as a visual interpretation of Buddhist teachings.

This fragment belongs to a larger body of work, as evidenced by the existence of comparable sections. For instance, a related scene from The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma is preserved in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Such multiple renditions highlight the significance and widespread dissemination of this particular Buddhist narrative.