Fragment of Vol. 157 of Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom (Mahaprajnaparamita sutra; Daihannyaharamittakyō) 大般若波羅蜜多経巻第一百五十七
Not on view
This accordion-style book is one volume of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, a foundational Mahayana Buddhist scripture. The six-hundred-volume version that circulated in East Asia was translated into Chinese by the scholar-monk Xuanzang (602–664). The image that opens this sutra shows the Buddha and his attendant bodhisattvas at center surrounded by a host of disparate figures.
Xuanzang himself (carrying a large backpack full of texts) and his fearsome protector Jinja Daishō stand on either side of the central triad. They are surrounded by a collection of demigods charged with protecting this scripture and believers. This same subject can be seen in painted form in a scroll displayed in the adjacent gallery.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.