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National Treasure

Fragmentary Volume of Senju Sengen Daranikyo Sutra (Also Known as Genbogankyo)

千手千眼陀羅尼経残巻(玄昉願経)
Fragmentary Volume of Senju Sengen Daranikyo Sutra (Also Known as Genbogankyo) (千手千眼陀羅尼経残巻(玄昉願経))
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Nara period, 8th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated National Treasure of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
National Treasure (国宝)
Date
701–800
Dimensions
Height25.5cm:Width246cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-4454

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This sutra describes the source of the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteśvara’s appearance and extols the virtues of the incantation Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī. A colophon at the end describes how a priest named Genbō (died 746) made a thousand copies of this sutra in 741, dedicated to Emperor Shōmu (701–756) and national peace. This segment is all that survives.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Fragmentary Volume of Senju Sengen Daranikyo Sutra (Also Known as Genbogankyo)(千手千眼陀羅尼経残巻(玄昉願経)).” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-4454. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/fragmentary-volume-of-senju-sengen-daranikyo-sutra-also-known-as-genbogankyo/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Cultural property designation: National Treasure
  • Genre: Calligraphy
  • Category: Calligraphy:Category:Books:Buddhist texts|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Nara period|Calligraphy:Formats and mountings:Handscrolls
  • Quantity: 1 handscrolls
  • Size: Height25.5cm:Width246cm
  • 員数: 1巻
  • 種別: 書跡:分類:典籍:仏典|書跡:地域:日本|書跡:時代:日本:奈良|書跡:装丁・形態:巻子
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 法量: 縦25.5cm:横246cm
  • 銘文等: 「天平十三年七月十五日 玄ぼう願経」の奥書あり

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