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Account of Buddhism from the South Seas
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Account of Buddhism from the South Seas
JAPAN; Nara period (710–794); Regular script; Handscroll; Ink on paper; 26.3 x 710 cm; Tenri University, Japan
The four-fascicle Account of Buddhism from the South Seas is authored by Chinese monk Yijing during the Tang dynasty (618-907). The account chronicles his travels to India and Southeast Asia, and includes observations of the practices of the local monks and nuns. This manuscript is the oldest transcription of the text in Japan. Parts of Fascicle 1 and Fascicle 2 are missing. It was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1953.
The calligraphy of this manuscript features characters that are neatly rendered with an unhurried hand. Dominant angular brushwork, tempered with slight flourishes resembling running script, endows the work with a harmony of vigor and tranquility. |
