Artwork

大般若経（中尊寺経）|Great Wisdom Sutra (Daihannya-kyō) from the Chūsonji Temple Sutra Collection (Chūsonji-kyō)

大般若経（中尊寺経）|Great Wisdom Sutra (Daihannya-kyō) from the Chūsonji Temple Sutra Collection (Chūsonji-kyō) is a silver painting. It dates from 1175 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

3 centimeters in width, the piece functions as a long handscroll format typical of Japanese religious manuscripts from the Heian period.

Created in 1175, the Great Wisdom Sutra handscroll from the Chūsonji Temple collection is executed on indigo-dyed paper. The artwork employs a luxurious technique utilizing gold and silver pigments to render its religious imagery. Measuring 25.6 centimeters in height and extending 746.3 centimeters in width, the piece functions as a long handscroll format typical of Japanese religious manuscripts from the Heian period.

The anonymous artist applied precious metals against the deep blue background to depict Buddhist figures, including Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, creating a striking formal contrast. This specific combination of materials and the scroll format reflects the high-status devotional practices of the era, with the indigo support serving as a canvas for the metallic illumination that defines its stylistic character.

History & Provenance

Created in Japan in 1175, this handscroll depicting Buddhist deities was executed using gold and silver pigments on indigo-dyed paper. The work is attributed to an anonymous artist, with no specific individual named in the available records regarding its commission or production. While the precise circumstances of its original commissioning remain unrecorded in the provided data, the scroll eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed.

The physical dimensions of the piece are recorded as 25.6 centimeters in height and 746.3 centimeters in width. The work serves as a religious artifact within the museum's holdings, representing the artistic output of late 12th-century Japan.

The Great Wisdom Sutra (Daihannya-kyō) from the Chūsonji Temple Sutra Collection is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Created in Japan in 1175, this handscroll is part of the museum's permanent collection of religious art. While specific accession numbers are not detailed in the provided records, the work is cataloged under the museum's holdings for Japanese paintings.

The text does not contain information regarding specific past exhibitions or loan history for this particular scroll, limiting the record to its current institutional custody and creation date.

Legacy

The handscroll, dated 1175, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it is presented as a religious painting depicting Bodhisattva, Buddha and related figures. Its creation on indigo‑dyed paper with gold and silver pigments demonstrates the technical mastery of early Japanese Buddhist art. The work’s presence in a major museum highlights its enduring significance within the study of early Japanese devotional imagery and continues to influence contemporary interpretations of Buddhist visual culture.

Overview

This handscroll, part of the Great Wisdom Sutra (Daihannya-kyō) from the Chūsonji Temple collection, exemplifies the luxurious production of sacred texts in 12th-century Japan. Crafted on indigo-dyed paper, it features intricate calligraphy and delicate imagery rendered in precious gold and silver pigments. It is one segment of an extensive set of over 5,000 meticulously copied pages, reflecting a significant devotional undertaking.

Subject & Meaning

As a segment of the Great Wisdom Sutra, this scroll contains Buddhist teachings. The presence of delicate bodhisattvas, depicted floating above the script, visually reinforces the spiritual content. These holy beings serve as guides and embodiments of enlightenment, integrating a pictorial narrative directly into the sacred text. The entire work functions as both a devotional object and a repository of profound religious wisdom.