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Commentary on the Vimalakirti Sutra
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Commentary on the Vimalakirti Sutra
JAPAN; Asuka period (538–645), dated 706; Running-regular script; Handscroll; Ink on paper; 28 x 581 cm; Kyoto National Museum, Japan
Originally compiled by Master Jizang of Jiaxiang Temple, this commentary in eight fascicles is a Japanese copy. The piece features a postscript dating to the year 706 of the Asuka period (538-645), making it the world's earliest dated copy of a Buddhist manuscript. Several of the volumes, however, were written during different periods of Japanese history, including the Heian (794-1185) and Kamakura (1185-1333) periods, and later. Primarily describing the essentials of the Vimalakirti Sutra, which was a popular sutra at the time, the commentary by Master Jizang spread to Japan relatively early. This particular copy was likely created within 100 years of its original writing, deeming it a trustworthy source for research on the calligraphic and Buddhist histories of Japan. The manuscript was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1974.
Scripted in the style of the Six Dynasties (220-589) of China, the calligraphy features swift brushstrokes in a combination of regular and running scripts. Nevertheless, the strokes retain the characteristics of early clerical script style, and have a strong and uninhibited essence that is not often found in similar manuscripts. |
