Daibirushana Jobutsu Jinbenkajikyo (Mahavairocana Sutra), Volume 6

This is a copy of the Sutra of the Great Illuminator (J., Daibirushana jôbutsu jinbenkaji kyô, popularly known as Dainichi kyô; Skt., Mahavairocana sutra), the most important scripture for the Shingon Sect of esoteric Buddhism (J., Mikkyô). It was translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by Subhakarasimha (J., Zenmui; 637-735) and Yixing (J., Ichigyô; 683-727) during the Tang dynasty (618-907). The sutra explains the teachings of the Matrix (J., taizôkai, Skt., garbhadhatu), which represents Buddhist ideas of all-inclusiveness, and describes the composition of the Matrix mandala (J., taizôkai mandara, Skt., garbhadhatu mandala), one of the two major esoteric mandalas paired with the Diamond Mandala (J., kongôkai mandara, Skt., vajradhatu mandala). Although this copy has no postscript or other indication of when it was transcribed, it appears, from its calligraphic style, to date from the Jingokeiun era (767-770).

— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.